One of the cornerstones of NBC's new fall season is the reimagining of the 1970s show The Bionic Woman. The show is being produced by David Eick, who coproduced the successful revival of Battlestar Galactica on NBC-owned Sci Fi Channel.
Clearly, NBC doesn't see anything wrong with mining an older property for use in today's TV-watching world, and the network is once again looking backward to move forward. According to Variety, NBC is reviving Knight Rider, the 1980s television show about the crime-fighting Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff's breakout role) and his talking Pontiac Trans-Am (named K.I.T.T.) that was outfitted with techy gadgets.
Currently, the Peacock is looking to make a two-hour Knight Rider pilot with the chance to turn it into a series (like Battlestar Galactica did) if it's a hit. The potential show also has a big Hollywood name behind it; director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Swingers, Go) is signed on to produce and possibly also direct.
The story will reportedly still concentrate on one man's quest to fight crime with the aid of his supercar, but may also introduce other evil, sentient automobiles.
The original Knight Rider aired from 1982 to 1986. No word on whether Hasselhoff will be involved in the new Knight Rider.
Comments (35)
this might be a good idea if they rework the WHOLE show and change the car to a different type of vehicle and uses something other than speed to fight crime. other than that it might be worth 2 hours of my life.
For me, the yawn factor here is out of control.
While I am so far impressed with the new version of the Bionic Woman, I really hope that this idea gets no where. They need to let shows like the A Team, Knight Rider, and the Dukes of Hazzard rest in piece.
Unoversal has tried reviving "KNIGHT RIDER"- at least twice- over the past 16 years {the last time, "TEAM KNIGHT RIDER"}. What could make NBC/Universal possibly believe that viewers want a darker, "humorless" version this time? Despite just ONE success (in reworking "BATTLESTAR: GALACTICA"), David Eick should STOP trying to "repackage" whatever NBC/Universal has in their library before they "consume" themselves and stop trying new ideas altogeher...being "hip" doesn't mean "better".
Awesome news about Knight Rider. I agree with many comments made here but on the other hand a remake a kr could be brilliant. My kids still watch the reruns of kr when its on tv and I happily sit there with them. A modified KITT with todays special effects can turn into a great show. Hoff should play the role of devon and an unknown actor to play the main role, or wentworth miller to please the ladies. Make it quickly and BRING IT ON
Shsteve, we still don't have cars or computers with nearly the artificial intelligence that KITT had. Talking to KITT was like having a conversation with a real person, except it wasn't a real person. We also don't have cars that can jump in the air, do a two-wheelie, or drive by itself. Well, the Lexus comes close - it can park by itself.
I hope it will be closer to the original series. They already failed miserable in 1997 with Team Knight Rider.
Well I'm torn between saying YES and NO. Yes if they use Hasslehoff in recurring role, Williams Daniels as the voice of K.I.T.T. Doug Liman get input from hoff and other writers and personnel who worked on the orginal show concentrate on making it as good if not better than original. Ask for help piggyback on ideas that could not be done on original show improve on what they wanted to do on original show. If you can't do any of these I say NO!
Oh good, a talkin car. The New Dr Who brought back K9 (his talking robot dog for one episode), let us hope Universal is content with a 2 hour movie. Universal would be better off bringing back the A-Team.
They couldn't pick a better producer. I hope he Directs too. And adding Hasslehoff in a Guest Role at least would be icing on the cake. He did great on the Talent Show. As for the Car, they better keep the same model.
they should let this one go,it work once,i don't think it will again
what's with NBC digging up all these old TV shows? seems like next we'll hear about The A-Team or Supercopter
It was a cool show during that time. Who knows, Doug Liman gives it a plus. The Bourne Ultimatum was such a badass movie.;)
Knight Rider was fun years ago, but I don't think it would hold the same appeal to me now. Anyway, if the Hoff wasn't in it, it would seem weird. Although, I'm all for the Hoff not being on my TV, which ain't going to happen thanks to Ryan Seacrest. :cry:
Seems that all my childhood memories are condemned to be re-made and tainted
'd like to know more about this. Have they rebuilt the car? Will the two hour movie be tv only? Will it lead to new tv series? I was dissapointed when they cancled the original and when the previous tv only movie didn't lead to a new series. I'm anxious!
I think I've only watched one episode of Knight Rider, but there were elements of the original concept that intrigued me, such as Micheal being a seriously injured cop nursed back to health (ala Robocop) and a private foundation backing him in a fight against crime. If it's played straight, I might be interested.
seems like NBC is trying to bring old shows like Bionic Woman and Knight Rider to get back on top hope it works
this could NBC could fail if it isnt a hit o wait
I believe I will watch if it happens
Liman made a pilot of his successful film <i>Mr. and Mrs. Smith</i> for television, we haven't seen hide of it yet. I think I would only watch if Hasselhoff were in it! :lol: (just kidding)
I say give it a chance, you never know.
I've always hoped for a good Knight Rider return or spinoff, it could be great.
They're scraping the bottom of the barrel at this point.
If they're not doing the orignal concept, and Hasselhoff isn't in it, I'm not interested. I don't want to see my fond memories rewritten by some pimly hack.
Yeah i remember them doing a Knight Rider spin off a bunch of years ago i even remember a white Kitt or was that an original episode??
hollywood writers are so out of ideas
If they actually do a series they should put Hasselhoff in the role of the old gray haired guy and have a new younger guy actually driving the car. Of course most remakes are lame pale imititations of the original - so odds are there will be a movie (similar to Knight Rider 2010 from 1994) and that will be that.
oh no, that is such a bad idea.
it should work, give hasselhoff a job.
Listen TV execs, Knight Rider was made during a time where we didn't think it was impossible to have a talking car and so many gadgets.
We now, better or for worse, live in a time where Sat-Nav is the norm, DVD players, digital radios and god knows what else can be pimped into a cheap Hyundai (Hey, we've seen the proof on Pimp My Ride) can be achieved.
That's why nobody like Knight Rider anymore. KITT isn't special at all. He's the norm. And JEEEEZ, don't get me started on the Knight Rider 2000 film or that weird Power Rangers-esque spin off with all the jeeps, bikes and cars.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more I realise I actually hated Knight Rider anyway.
no more ideas, who cares about a new KR movie...
If they're really going to make it, I just want them to keep the same actor to do the voice of K.I.T.T.I think a lot of the original show's charm came from being so over the top and kitchy, i.e - being from the 80s. Let's hope they don't ruin it.
One request. The 'KITT' vehicle needs to at least be black. Not like that weird red car that was a sorry excuse for the classic Trans-Am we all loved so much.
They already did a future Knight Rider tv movie something like 15 years ago and a Knight Rider TV spin off with a bunch of talking cars like 10 years ago...
Are the networks running out of new ideas? They're recyling old popular shows left right and center these days. :(