While Richard Linklater‘s "Boyhood" continues to do strong box office, becoming the third highest grossing IFC Films movie ever, the film has a long way to go to reach the financial heights of "School Of Rock." The director’s 2003 comedy starring Jack Black was a surprise hit, earning over $80 million at the U.S. box office, prompting discussion of a sequel. While that project never came to pass, last year it was reported that Andrew Lloyd Webber was considering bringing the concept of a down-and-out rocker impersonating a substitute teacher to the Great White Way. In the meantime, the further adventures of Dewey Finn are set to take place on the small screen.
THR reports that Nickelodeon has given a straight-to-season, thirteen episode order for a live action "School Of Rock" series, with Linklater and Scott Rudin to executive produce the Paramount TV show. Jim and Steve Armogida ("Crash & Bernstein," "My Family") will write the program, casting is imminent, production begins this fall, and the premiere is set for next spring.
And while we usually lament lazy "hey-this-was-a-movie-lets-make-a-TV-show" thinking that runs Hollywood, "School Of Rock" seems like a pretty natural fit for television— if it’s done with the same heartfelt, goofball spirit, it could be a lot of fun.
