Warren Beatty has reprised his role as iconic detective Dick Tracy in a new program on Turner Classic Movies. Well, kinda. The special, “Dick Tracy Special: Tracy Zooms In,” is presented as a televised Zoom call. This stunt is very similar to the one Beatty did with TCM in 2011. Beatty as Tracy dons his signature yellow coat and hat, and chats with hosts Ben Mankiewicz and Leonard Matlin. During the program, he gives an update on his life, and expresses his displeasure with Beatty’s film.
The trio watch several clips from the film together before they decide to call Beatty to finally settle Tracy’s complaints. Beatty joins as himself and eventually reconciles with Tracy, promising a more collaborative relationship in the event of a sequel.
Although the special was listed on TCM’s schedule, it was not promoted on social media or in any commercial spots. This was a surprise for even the most dedicated fans of the channel. Many speculated that the show was produced as a way for Beatty to retain the legal rights to the character. Beatty purchased the rights to make Dick Tracy movies from Tribune Media in 1985. The Tribune tried to take them back in 2002, leading to a series of lawsuits. This prompted the first “Dick Tracy Special,” where he was interviewed by Matlin in a “Larry King Live”-style setting. In 2011, a U.S. District Court ruled that by making the special, Beatty had done enough to prevent the rights from returning to their original owners.
Will We See A Dick Tracy 2?
Beatty has always been open about his desire to make a sequel. Beatty still claimed to be planning the film as recently as 2016. However, the 85-year-old actor has only made one film since 2001, his 2016 Howard Hughes film “Rules Don’t Apply.” Fans might be disappointed that “Dick Tracy 2” isn’t guaranteed, but now Beatty will face no legal issues if attempted.
