‘Friday Night Lights’ Is Coming Back To The Big Screen With David Gordon Green At The Helm

“Friday Night Lights” was the rare example of a decent film that was made better by being adapted into a TV series. Running for 5 seasons, the “Friday Night Lights” TV series is still gaining fans with its streaming afterlife. But since this is 2018 and Hollywood is, well, Hollywood, get ready for a movie based on the book that was turned into a movie that was adapted into a TV series. That’s right, “Friday Night Lights” is getting the big screen treatment, yet again, according to Variety.

Directed by David Gordon Green, this version of “Friday Night Lights” won’t be a sequel to the 2004 film, and it won’t be based on the hit TV series. Instead, Green is going back to the source material, a non-fictional account of the 1988 Permian High School Panthers football team as they attempt to win a state championship.

We’re right there with you. The first question is “Why?” The next question is “What happened to David Gordon Green?”

Let’s talk about David Gordon Green, for a second. After a promising indie career, the director hit it big with his film “Pineapple Express.” That’s when things started to go a bit downhill. Remember “The Sitter” and “Your Highness?” Yeah, probably not. Both were average-at-best, forgettable comedies.

Then there was the half-way decent “Joe,” followed by the again, utterly forgettable “Our Brand is Crisis” and “Manglehorn.” However, his career hit another high point last year, with “Stronger,” which is carried by a strong performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, received good reviews.

All this to say that David Gordon Green is a hit-or-miss filmmaker if there ever was one. That’s not even taking into consideration his next film, which is the reboot/sequel “Halloween,” which seems completely out of left field. Comedies? Check. Dramas? Check. Horror reboots? Check! Remaking a movie that was turned into a TV show? Nope, haven’t done that yet. So maybe, a “Friday Night Lights” remake is right up his alley?

The real question is “Why?” Why would you remake a film that was already remade into a well-liked, if not beloved, TV series? Green must have a pretty awesome take on the source material, or more likely, the studio just thinks the franchise is a tested IP that can put butts in seats. Yeah, that’s probably it.