As Hollywood slowly works its way through remaking all TV and film from the 1980s and 90s, it was only a matter of time before the television classic Knight Rider got its day on the big screen. While rumors have swirled about a Knight Rider movie for about a year now, it is apparently one step closer to fruition.
Rumor has it that Chris Pratt and Danny McBride are circling the film, which focuses on a high-tech crime fighter and his talking car. While it is not yet clear yet who will play which part, First Showing does point out that Pratt has recently got himself into shape for Guardians of the Galaxy. There’s no way that the Weinsteins would want to hide that fabulous body behind a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, no matter how sexy a car it might be.
For those of us either too young (or not born) during the run of the show, Knight Rider featured David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight, a Los Angeles cop who undergoes cosmetic surgery after being shot in the face. He becomes an undercover crime fighter for a public justice organization, armed with high-tech equipment in the form of KITT, a heavily modified Trans Am with powers that include near indestructibility and a smart-ass computer voice (William Daniels). Despite a relatively short run on TV, Knight Rider became a cult classic, and has already spawned several films designed as sequels and television pilots.
So far, the only confirmed person on board the Knight Rider film is Brad Copeland, a writer responsible for both a few Arrested Development episodes and the so-called comedy Wild Hogs. While Copeland’s presence might give some of us pause, the possible involvement of Pratt and McBride is enough to make me mildly interested in the Knight Rider film.
We will of course keep an eye on casting developments as they are confirmed or denied. Until then, you can let us know what you think about the potential of Knight Rider in the comments below.