It was the traditional tale of one man’s renaissance via the magic of schoolchildren, given a sharp twist by director Richard Linklater and star/mugger-par-excellence Jack Black. Now Linklater hopes the story will party on over thirteen episodes as SCHOOL OF ROCK becomes the latest big screen property to transfer to TV. The new version is to be co-produced by kid-friendly Nickelodeon and Paramount and will feature a new cast and creative team.
Central character Dewey Finn was one of Black’s standout roles and it’s hard to think of who might inherit his shorts. The replacement is soon to be announced, but Rainn Wilson would surely be a shoo-in. However the presence of writers Jim and Steve Armogida (who laboured on one of the UK’s most insipid long-running sitcoms My Family) indicate that spontaneity and invention may not be high on the list of priorities.
Scott Rudin (INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS) will exec-produce with Linklater and the show will commence production around Christmas. Paramount is currently in the process of mining its cinematic back catalogue for series ideas and the proposed small screen reboots of GHOST (endless pottery sequences?), TERMINATOR (with a fresh batch of movies being shot?) and THE TRUMAN SHOW (Westworld surely has this concept covered?) not boding well for compelling week-by-week narratives. I can’t see School Of Rock cranking the laughter factor up to eleven, especially in a family-orientated format. But with solid talent in the decision-making chairs this could develop into a worthy successor.
(Not. Yes I know that’s from the wrong movie.)
Source: THR
Steve is a journalist and comedian who enjoys American movies of the 70s, Amicus horror compendiums, Doctor Who, Twin Peaks, Naomi Watts and sitting down. His short fiction has been published as part of the Iris Wildthyme range from Obverse Books.
Latest Posts
-
Film News
/ 21 hours agoVFX house One Of Us releases ‘The Zone of Interest’ showreel
The film was nominated for five Academy Awards.
By Paul Heath -
Film News
/ 23 hours ago‘Love Lies Bleeding’ star Katy O’Brian joins ‘Mission: Impossible 8’
The Love Lies Bleeding star heads to the action franchise to star opposite Tom...
By Paul Heath -
Features
/ 24 hours agoThe best nunsploitation films to watch after ‘Immaculate’
Hollywood has a habit of making killer nun films.
By Paul Heath -
Film Trailers
/ 2 days agoRyusuke Hamaguchi’s new film ‘Evil Does Not Exist’ gets a trailer
This is the auteur's first film since Drive My Car.
By Paul Heath