If David Gordon Green can reinvigorate the “Halloween” franchise after years of terrible sequels, maybe the filmmaker and his buddies can do the same for “Smokey and the Bandit?” Well, that’s the idea, at least.
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According to THR, Green is set to co-write, direct, and produce a new series inspired by the film franchise, “Smokey and the Bandit.” The filmmaker will be joined by Brian Sides on the script and the series will be produced by Danny McBride, Jody Hill, and Brandon James of Rough House Pictures, alongside Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins and their Fuzzy Door production company. No network or streaming partner has been named, but this is obviously a show that won’t have difficulty finding a destination.
“Smokey and the Bandit” is the iconic film from 1977 that stars Burt Reynolds and Sally Field as people up to no good in a snazzy car that have to outrun the incompetent law enforcement. The film was a major hit when it premiered almost 40 years ago and went on to earn $300 million at the box office, trailing only a little film, “Star Wars,” which was released that same year.
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“Growing up in the south, ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ was an iconic franchise for me,” said Green. “The legacy of these characters is a playground of swagger and sass that I’m excited to dig into.”
It’s unclear how the series will update the lore of the original film and its sequels. Perhaps, Green will set the series in the ‘70s and treat it as a period action-comedy? We’ll have to wait and see. With McBride, Hill, and MacFarlane all attached, you better believe there will be plenty of laughs to be had.
Here’s the trailer for the original film: