Something I was actually pondering about for the past few days. I don't know how Star Trek is doing but there seemed to be a lot going on about the movie and bringing new life to it and the trailer of the movie made it seem all promising. And I for one, sure am going to have a look at it. The fact JJ Abrams was involved is one of the reasons. Now if I'm not mistaken Star Trek is also from Paramount, right? JJ Abrams has also directed Mission Impossible III for Paramount, which was one of the better actioners I've seen in a long time. See the series of Mission Impossible is also from Paramount than right?

What do you think of the idea that JJ Abrams becomes the director of the MacGyver movie?

It's just a thought too. But if he has proven twice he can make succesful movies of old shows, I think we can have someone trustworthy.

There are many more peoples out there: rookies (who might screw up or have beginners luck) but there's also Jon Turtletaub (National Treasure) and Breck Eisner (Sahara).

Also directors from the show itself are welcome: William Gereghty, Michael Vejar, Charles Corell, Michael Caffey, Michael Preece.

But in my opinion I think JJ Abrams might be a good choice. Thoughts, comments?

I would have to vote for William Gereghty! He did the best with the show so he'd definitly master the movie. But is he ready to tackle the big screen?

They should go with a MacGyver director--someone with experience shooting that style. William Gereghty is one of my faves, too, but that is a very good question whether he would be able to do a big screen production after having only small screen experience.

I haven't seen enough of JJ Abrams' work to say either way (for example, I know of people who have seen both the Cloverfield and Star Trek movies he directed and hated the former but liked the latter).

I'd like to see Mike Vejar do it - he did move on to direct some really good episodes of Babylon 5 under Joe Straczynski, amongst other things.

But it has to be someone who can get into the spirit of Mac, respect it and not botch it up (like some big Hollywood adaptations I can think of from the last few years.)

JJ Abrams didn't direct Cloverfield, he was the producer.

wonderful idea.

Mind adding to why?

Actually guys I think the real issue isn't who directs it, but who writes it.

The director only decides how he/she will present the story.

If the story is crap, who directs it is irrelevant.

My vote goes to Anthony Rich! He wrote the best MacGyver Episodes ever!

Steven Speilberg

That as wel but doesn't the director has one of the last calls on it?

My vote to screenwriters of the show are mostly later seasons.
Lee David Zlotoff for starters.
Maybe Stephen Kronish can start thinking about one. He wrote some solid episodes for '24', so he might be up for the task.
John Sheppard (the Murdoc episodes, Passages, Lesson in Evil)
Lincoln Kibbee (Humanity, High Control) I think he's good for switching action with humor. So that would make a nice action/comedy.
Robert Sherman (Second Chance, Two Times Trouble, The Gun, Jerico Games), he's good for character development.

Other bigger screenwriters that come to mind? But you have to find those with a good state of reputation and willing to write. Paul Haggis wrote Casino Royale but I think he's impossible to get. Maybe we're better off with the screenwriters of National Treasure. Ted Elliot and Terry Rosario. Those with a good and sober look on things. They also wrote Pirates of the Carribean.

David Koepp, maybe. (Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Mission Impossible, War of the Worlds, Minority Report) Yeah, I know almost all Spielberg-directed.

How do we stand against someone who's willing to do both the writing and directing?

Heres one since everybody kind of compares the CSIs to MacGyver Jerry Bruckheimer. (sorry about the spelling). And didn't he have something to do with National Treasure?

I'm with Rocky on this one. If the script is poorly written and they don't have the right cast (ahem...RDA), then it will fail miserably.