"Missing in Action" rediscovered for update

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Joining the legions of remakes of '80s action movies is a new take on "Missing in Action," the Chuck Norris vehicle in which he blazes his guns throughout Southeast Asia, liberating prisoners of war.

This version, for MGM, will be updated, like most of the new action reboots including "Rambo," to reflect contemporary realities. The movie will be set in the current Iraq war and involve an action hero on a mission in the Middle East.

The original "Missing in Action" centered on Col. James Braddock (Norris), a POW of the Viet Cong who escapes Southeast Asia and then heads back to liberate other U.S. captives. Two related features -- a prequel and a sequel -- were released after MGM's 1984 hit. (The third film was directed by Aaron Norris, brother of the Texas Ranger.)

The studio's plan is to release the new film directly to home video rather than to theaters. In an interesting twist, though, the co-producer/co-financier of the project is World Wrestling Entertainment, which has been expanding its action-movie slate under its WWE Studios banner. Movies like "12 Rounds," a kidnapping tale starring John Cena, are set for theatrical release.

The screenplay for "Missing in Action" is being written by Jeremy Passmore and Andre Fabrizio. Passmore also is writing "Red Dawn," another updated reboot of an MGM title about an '80s military threat.

(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)