Netflix Is Bringing Back T.J. HOOKER as an Action Comedy Movie
Netflix is diving back into the world of ‘80s TV procedurals and giving one of its most recognizable titles a modern, comedic twist.
The streaming giant has secured the rights to T.J. Hooker, the classic cop drama that originally starred William Shatner, and is turning it into an action comedy film.
The original T.J. Hooker series debuted in 1982 and ran for five seasons, wrapping up in 1986 after airing 91 episodes. It followed Shatner’s tough-as-nails Sgt. T.J. Hooker, a seasoned cop dealing with the emotional fallout from his partner’s death and a messy divorce.
Trading in his plainclothes detective badge, Hooker returns to patrol duty to train rookies and take down the kind of criminals who shattered his life. The cast also included Heather Locklear, Adrian Zmed, and James Darren.
Now, Netflix is ready to reimagine that gritty, old-school crime-fighter for today’s audience. Hooker’s “rough around the edges” style seems tailor-made for a self-aware, action-packed comedy update that plays with how out-of-place his methods might look in a more progressive world.
There’s no confirmation yet if the now 94-year-old Shatner will appear in the film, but fans will undoubtedly be keeping an eye on that.
Jarrad Paul and Andy Mogel are set to write the script for the adaptation. They’ll also produce the movie alongside Sophie Cassidy and Matt Crespy of 2.0 Entertainment, Adrian Askarieh of Prime Universe Films, and Alex Westmore of Vali Vista Films. The film's executive production team includes Rick Husky, the creator of the original show.
Paul and Mogel bring a solid comedy pedigree to the project. They’re currently showrunning Bert, a Netflix series starring Bert Kreischer, which they also co-created and wrote. Their feature Little Brother, starring John Cena and Eric Andre and directed by Matt Spicer, is shooting this summer for Netflix.
Their past work includes Huge in France, The Grinder, and The D Train with Jack Black and James Marsden. They also co-wrote the 2008 comedy Yes Man, starring Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel, and created the animated series Allen Gregory with Jonah Hill.
With T.J. Hooker coming back in this new form, Netflix is banking on bringing back a familiar face in a way that could appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers looking for a fresh, fun spin on the cop genre.
Source: Deadline