Paramount is releasing Clive Cussler's Sahara sometime in 2005. Mathew McConaughey is Dirk Pitt. Steve Zahn is Gioridino(I always picture him as looking like Ernie Borgnine). William H. Macy(with a beard) is Admiral Sandecker. Also has Penelope Cruz. Apparently production was to begin in 2001 with Hugh Jackman as Pitt but production was postponed after 911. When production resumed Jackman was unavailable. You can see the trailer at imdb.com. Not exactly the way I picture a Pitt adventure but it looks pretty good.

I agree with the casting questions. McConaughey isn't the way I pictured Dirk Pitt but I'm more forgiving of Steve Zahn as Al Giordino who is required to provided the comic relief in Pitt stories.

I am a little suspicious as to how Dayna Cussler (Clive Cussler's daughter) came out of nowhere for a starring role. Nepotism? [gasp] Say it isn't true!

Overall, it looks like the movie will be true to the spirit of the book and, if sucessful, might be the start of a whole slew of Cussler adaptations - and it's about time.

Jim

Don't count on it.

Yikes. This could really blow.

Just picked up Sahara this past weekend, one of the few Dirk Pitt novels I didn't have. Looking forward to seeing how well they portray the characters.

Larry