“YOUR KNICKED!!!” – Last week we heard about on of UK’s TV Classics from 1970/1980’s Professionals is coming to the big screen thanks to Lionsgate and now we have casting news for another classic British tv insitution THE SWEENEY!
We’ve known since 2010 The Sweeney was been remade into a movie but now word on who will be in it and this morning Vertigo Films have laid that mystery to rest when they annouced Ray Winestone and Ben Drew aka Plan B will play the movies titular roles. Vertigo Films sent us the news today that Winestone will play Jack Regan (played originally by the late John Thaw) and Drew will play George Carter (original played by Dennis Waterman) with the movie set in modern day Britian.
The new movie will be written & directed by Nick Love (Football Factory & The Firm) with the movie co-written with Bafta Winner John Hodge (TRAINSPOTTING) with talk of the movie starting principal shooting this autumn.
Check out the two images and full press release sent to us from Vertigo Films:
Meet THE SWEENEY
Ben Drew signs up to play George Carter in the eagerly awaited feature THE SWEENEY
London: 2nd April 2011
Vertigo Films are proud to announce that 2011 Brit Winner, Ben Drew (Plan B) has signed up to play George Carter in the upcoming movie THE SWEENEY. He will star alongside Ray Winstone, who’ll play Jack Regan in the full-length feature film.
Based on the original ITV cult classic TV show, THE SWEENEY will be a modernization of the London Flying Squad, directed by Nick Love (THE FOOTBALL FACTORY, THE FIRM) and co-written by Bafta Winner John Hodge (TRAINSPOTTING).
Set in present day England, THE SWEENEY will be packed full of fast cars, action and wise cracks as it follows Flying Squad detectives Jack Regan, (originally played John Thaw,) George Carter (original played by Dennis Waterman) and their team, as they work to keep the bad guys down!
Director and co writer Nick Love states, “I’m very excited about Ben playing Carter – he brings an intelligence and sensitivity that is crucial for THE SWEENEY. Ben is also one of the most promising and multi-talented young performers around. For me, Ray (Winstone) and Ben are the ultimate casting for a character driven action thriller set in London today.”
Ben Drew adds. “It’s a dream come true for me to be in a film with Ray Winstone who is one of my favourite British actors of all time and I’m really excited about working with Nick Love in what I feel will be a challenging role for me to play”
Ray states, “I cant wait to work with Nick Love on The Sweeney, it was an inspired casting to have Ben Drew as George Carter, I’m a huge fan of his. “
Principal photography commences Autumn 2011
Thepeoplesmovies.com 
I’m sorry but I’m dissapointed at the choice of Ben Drew to play Carter, Carter was very typical of a young DS back in the day, he was the sensible one who looked and sounded the part, Ray Winston is perfect for Jack Regan, please do not spoil this iconic relationship by trying to be trendy and “getting down with the kids”. I would have thought Ricky Groves would have been a much better choice for Carter.
i am too.it seems these days you seem to get more sucess been a winner of a reality show or failed contestant on these shows or simply your a musican, ricky groves would be not bad, need somebody with a hardman assistant streak to them