Before the MCU‘s “The Avengers” took over the silver screen, a different “The Avengers” held sway over TVs in the UK. And Studiocanal hopes they might replicate the sensation of the original series with a reboot. Deadline reports that the studio has a remake of the iconic ’60s spy series in the works, with two buzzy writers at the helm: “Industry” scribes Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.
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And if the new “Avengers” has the same magic as that HBO/BBC series, then Studiocanal will have a hit on their hands. With “Succession” over and done with the London-set “Industry” could become TV’s supreme finance drama. But enough about “Industry” and more about “The Avengers.” The original series ran six seasons from 1961 to 1969 over 161 episodes on ITV and ABC, with Patrick Macnee as secret agent John Steed, who helped the UK government fend off villainous plots against the state with assistants Diana Rigg and Honor Blackman. “The Avengers” was acclaimed for its quippy dialogue, stylish panache, and two female characters operating as equals to the central male one. That last reason could make a reboot á la mode on contemporary TV.
So who else is involved in “The Avengers” reboot besides Down and Kay? “Sex Education” director Ben Taylor is attached to direct and executive produce the series, with Warner Bros. Discovery outfit Wall To Wall co-producing with Studiocanal. And despite rumors, the reboot will not be an HBO project. Studiocanal has quietly had “The Avengers” in development for a while, with the pilot already written and ready to shoot.
But bear in mind that this reboot isn’t an assured hit. Warner Bros. made a disastrous movie remake of the series in 1998 starring Ralph Fiennes, Uma Thurman, and Sean Connery. The movie tanked with critics, barely broke even at the box office, and tarnished the legacy of a UK-favorite TV show. That’s partially the reason why Studiocanal hasn’t brought the show back sooner, although there’s been previous attempts to. The latest there? “The Nice Guys” and “The Predator” director Shane Black penned a pilot with co-writer Fred Dekker about half a decade ago, but it ultimately didn’t go anywhere.
But despite the 1998 flop, the original “The Avengers” was groundbreaking for its surreal touches and fashionable flair. It remains a cult TV show across the pond, so with the right cast and crew, this could be an easy win on the small screen from Studiocanal. With Down and Kay writing, “The Avengers” already has a leg up, but a stellar leading cast will make this series most anticipated. Stay tuned for new on that front soon.