Adam Rayner wins the lead in 'The Saint' remake

Fifty years ago, the British spy series 'The Saint' first aired, starring Roger Moore as the titular Simon Templar. Now, the remake of the popular series has found its lead in British actor Adam Rayner.

'The Saint,' produced by Brad Krevoy ('Dumb & Dumber,' 'Kingpin'), is the latest installment in a series about the British spy Templar that has been running since 1938. The 1930s and 1940s saw a series of films about 'The Saint' as well as a popular radio drama starring Vincent Price. From 1948 to 1961, there was even a popular 'Saint' comic strip--but it wasn't until Roger Moore's starring turn in the television series that the character reached new heights of popularity.

Adam Rayner now joins Vincent Price, George Sanders, Ian Ogilvy, Roger Moore and Val Kilmer (who played Templar in an ill-received feature film adaptation in 1997) as the latest actor to take on the classic character. With a pilot written and Executive Produced by Jesse Alexander ('Heroes'), it is almost unbelievable that the project has yet to find a network. I imagine the casting of Rayner will spark a bidding war over this proven property.

In 'The Saint,' debonair international thief Simon Templar (Rayner), a modern day Robin Hood, steals from rich criminals and keeps the loot for himself. A master of disguise, improvisation, martial arts, firearms and espionage and the quintessential English gentleman, he is hired by certain government agencies for special assignments.

Rayner recently co-starred opposite Melissa George in the criminally-underrated BBC & Cinemax series 'Hunted.'