Another classic cartoon/toy IP is getting a second chance adaptation as Hasbro Entertainment, Prime Video, and Kilter Films are putting together a new live-action series based on “Jem & The Holograms,” the 1980s pop-band cartoon that also had a popular toyline attached to it (like most cartoons of the era).
Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy (“Reminence”), of HBO‘s cyberpunk mystery show “Westworld” fame, of course, are behind Kilter, and they’ve previously worked with Amazon on the acclaimed post-apocalyptic video game streaming series “Fallout” and the William Gibson adaptation “The Peripheral.” However, as pointed out in the report from Deadline, Nolan and Joy won’t be contributing as showrunners or directors on this one, at least, not yet (that could change).
The original show that debuted back in 1985 and ended in 1988 tried to capitalize on the popularity of the MTV generation (apparently, it had better ratings than “Transformers” and “He-Man”). It “followed record company owner Jerrica Benton and her alter-ego Jem, lead singer of the rock group Jem and the Holograms, and featured music videos in every episode and a slew of original songs, including the theme ‘Truly Outrageous.'” We’ll keep our fingers crossed that this new show won’t just default to covers (licensing music is often cheaper and quicker than crafting original music) and attempt to get original music as the backbone of this new take from Prime.
“Jem & The Holograms” got a modern live-action feature film from Jon M. Chu (“Wicked”) and Universal Pictures back in 2015 called “Jem,” but that one failed to find an audience and struggled to earn back its $5 million budget at the global box office. Amazon is coming off the opening weekend of their “Masters of the Universe” remake, another toy/cartoon IP, but that one hails from Mattel. Other execs on the gestating project include Athena Wickham at Kilter and Gabriel Marano for Hasbro.
If you weren’t already aware, Hasbro has been trying to get various properties from their roster (new and old) made into films and television, including a new “Power Rangers” series at Disney+ after securing the rights from Saban. That new Hasbro show is being headed up by “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” showrunners Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz.
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