MovieChat Forums > Maverick (1994) Discussion > Is this a modern take on the old series ...

Is this a modern take on the old series or a continuation of it?

posted 2 years ago by TheGutterMonkey (292)
5 replies | jump to latest

SPOILERS ahead...

While I've loved this movie since I was a kid, I never really watched the original series in which it was based. I am, however, aware of the basics and that James Garner played the titular character of Bret Maverick (at one point, at least), which is the same name in which Gibson's character goes by in this film.

My question is: When Garner's character is revealed to be Maverick's father at the end of the movie, is this meant to imply that he's playing the same Maverick he played in the old TV series and that Gibson's character is actually meant to be Bret Maverick the second? And that this "remake" (I guess that's what you'd call it?) has actually been a sort of sequel to the series the entire time?

[–] kwestmo (4130) 2 years ago

In my opinion the film is a reboot. If Garner were the Maverick from the TV series the movie would be set around 1900. Plus John Wesley Harding would have been a contemporary to the Garner's Maverick.

However, it is open to interpretation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maverick_(film)

[–] R_Kane (15828) 2 years ago

It’s neither. It’s a travesty of what was actually, for its time, a great broadcast TV action series that this film made into yet another Will Smith vehicle.

Call me in 20 years and tell me who remembers Will Smith.

[–] April-151-CT (10210) 2 years ago

Will Smith 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[–] TheGutterMonkey (292) 2 years ago

Will Smith? lol The hell are you babbling about? Are you confusing this with Wild Wild West?

[–] enriquesingh (1773) 2 years ago

I think that James Garner is playing a character who would be the father of the TV Maverick... and Mel Gibson in the movie is playing the character that James Garner originated.

Because the TV series and the movie take place around the same time period... around 1870-1875ish.

If it were James Garner playing the same character he played in the TV series... then the movie would take place around 1910s... and the movie clearly doesn't take place around that era.