Vin Diesel has been talking up his Kojak remake for years, presumably because he’s the kind of guy who loves syndicated television that plays during the day and he’s got a real nostalgia for classic crime-fighting executed by handsome bald men. But it seems as if the project is finally getting off the ground with the addition of a brand-new screenwriter.

Deadline reports that screenwriter Philip Gawthorne (who is also working on The Cube remake, among other things) will pen the screenplay for the modern-day reboot of the ’70s-era television mainstay. An earlier version of the script was written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade of James Bond fame.

The film is a “starring vehicle” for Diesel (never not funny) and will reportedly imagine the film as being more character-driven (the Fast And Furious puns, they write themselves). In addition to his leading role in the film, Diesel will also produce it with Samantha Vincent, Scott Stuber, and Dylan Clark.

The original Kojak starred Telly Savalas as New York City Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak, a predictably tough-talking cop prone to sucking on lollipops (the ’70s, you guys) and being super-tough on crime. Kojak was funny and flinty, but he was also incorruptible, a good guy with a lot of flair. He also had a catchphrase—of course—and was constantly asking people, “Who loves ya, baby?” Catchy!

There’s still no word on if Diesel’s director of choice, Ang Lee, will helm the film, but it is important to have dreams.