The new KITT from NBC’s upcoming Knight Rider TV movie/pilot
There’s a very short teaser for the new Knight Rider TV movie that NBC is floating this February, no doubt to see if the ratings are strong enough to justify an ongoing TV series. Above you’re looking at the new K.I.T.T. which we’ve talked about before. I still don’t like that they’re not using a Pontiac Firebird for this. Especially since I’m absolutely sure there’s a brand new version coming out as the sister vehicle to the new Camaro that premiered in the Transformers movie.
Anyway, the teaser is below and it’s quite short at only 15 seconds:
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I already don’t like it. Having the car call Knight “Mike” instead of “Michael” just sounds… weird. It’s too familiar. I always liked how formal the car sounded in the original show. Is this car going to be more like a cool buddy, or what?
I will probably tune in just for laughs and to see how bad this thing will be.
Knight Rider debuts some time in February 2008.
Image courtesy of Edmunds.com.
Source: /Film
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41 Comments
Yeah the mustang sucks and I’m not going to buy one Ford. But where’s the cylon red eye thingy ?
THIS IS CRAP!!!
A Mustang for KITT??!! Come on!! Where the hell did these guys park their brains?!
KITT was kick-ass because it was a slightly modified Trans Am (with a front nose bodykit to make it sharper and sleeker). With that pronounced wedge profile, it looked high-tech in an understated way.
But a Mustang?? It doesn’t look futuristic in any way whatsoever. We need to have a sleek wedge-shaped car as KITT, not a square-nosed car like this! And that sensor light.. putting it on that bonnet makes it look like crap.
As a fan of the old Knight Rider I’m definitely not looking forward to this one.
Steve Adam: The cylon red eye thingy is in the two hood scoops.
Not impressed, sorry.
I agree, this Ford poc mustang is such a lame throwback. I wonder how much Ford is paying to do this?
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Didn’t they also have Will Smith driving a Mustang in “I am ledgend”? And wasn’t Bumble-bee a Mustang in that transformers flick?
What’s the deal,
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I know its not cost effective but this KITT car should look like the first KITT in some kinda way. The cylon-eye dosnt make for a KITT car.
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I don’t think this show will find an audience anyway, and what’s the deal did they shoot this entire series before the strike or what?
I don’t think the footage is even worth a comment from me…..
Naw Steve, Bumblebee was a Camaro, But I still get your point. Still, I’ll watch it because I loved the old show. Fingers crossed despite the crappy car choice, the show can be awesome.
While I don’t like the Mustang, simply because it’s not sleek enough to be the kind of car we saw in the original series, this isn’t the first time Ford has provided the cars for a Knight Rider project. Even ignoring the car from KR2010, they provided the cars for TKR.
Also, we still don’t know if this is the same KITT as we saw in the original series. Everything I’ve read indicates that this could be, as in maybe/maybe not, a complete new car with a new personality. If it’s an entirely new car, this new body may work. If not, if it’s the old character transplanted into a new body, then it definitely will not work as it won’t suit the character.
“Having the car call Knight “Mike” instead of “Michael” just sounds… weird. It’s too familiar.”
As for this, remember this new driver is not Michael Knight. He’s Mike Tracer. While everyone, not just KITT, called Knight “Michael” in the original series, Tracer may not even respond to that. Besides, as mentioned above, the car might not, and hopefully will not, be the same character.
Like the rest of you, I’m not overly hopeful, but I’m not going to write this one off completely quite yet. I still don’t know enough about it to do so.
Maybe they should call the star of the show Mike Shelby and use a Mercury Tracer for KITT
Or should that be KITTTT (Knight Industries Two Thousand Twenty Two)?
(I like the way the car is all black save for the already too large snake on the fender…NOT! If I were to buy a factory Shelby, that would be gone immediately after pulling the car into my garage)
Wow! That car looks like crap!!! Can it get any more boxy and non-futuristic looking???
Exactly! It doesn’t look bad as a souped up racer in East L.A., but as K.I.T.T.???
Nope.
Vic
Yea the mustang, GAY. It should have been a GTO or some sort of Pontiac. This is going to be really stupid. NBC is dumb, I hope they read this and realize what a big mistake they are making.
Oh come on guys! The Ford Mustang is a great car. Having it as KITT…….man, I can’t even go forward with that lie. This is totally moronic! A Mustang??!! What stupid producer got paid for this?! Did they even watch the original show? Hasselhoff should be relieved he’s not going to be in it.
I still say it should have been a modified new Corvette.
Vic
Just a thought… given all the computer generated effects available and heavily used in all small TV films these days… maybe the Mustang we see here is BEFORE it morphs into something different. Like the Viper ? Maybe it gets sleeky and sexy when it morphs. Again.. just a thought.
Vic
Nawed, I don’t think that’ll happen.
If you check Youtube for Knight Rider 2008, you’ll see that there was a promotional introduction of the new cars to be featured in the film. All three are Mustangs. A “hero car” that the hero drives that looks pretty enough for close-ups; a full-sized remote-controlled car that has a 1-mile R/C range for the scenes of the car driving itself; and a stunt car that’s used for the pursuit scenes, the only ‘transformation’ that I noticed on the pursuit-mode car is an additional rear wing.
Other than that, there are no other changes to the main Mustang.
There’s also a high-res NBC promo clip on Jalopnik that shows KITT bragging about its abilities. In that clip, we can see that KITT has nanotech enhanced camouflage, a self-regeneration and damage repair system (so, instead of an indestructible molecular bonded shell, we have self-repair), ability to access military satellites and the FBI database (frame-forward it and you’ll see some of the images of satellite and database data to be Getty stock images! Haha), and a bunch of other features.
Though I didn’t like a Mustang as KITT, but it seems like this TV movie might turn out quite well.
How old is the character supposed to be in this reboot? Anybody??
And he’s driving a car that has access to military sattilites, nanotech, and some kind of stealth onboard cloak?
Let me know if its any good I’m sure I’ll miss this one.
(Why can’t this car fly)? Chitty Chitty bang bang did.
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How can you loose a battle with all that behind you?
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Looking back on this show I have to laugh at the premise..IMO, it seems unrealistic and lame that this one guy would have that much power.
Its like an over the top james bond/Spy hunter hybrid.
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Well Steve, this new KITT is not the one that we know. And I’m sure it hasn’t greatly deviated from the original series’ premise - in Glen A. Larson’s own words, it was an attempt to do a Western with a man and his car instead of a cowboy and his horse, but overall it was a “bullshit premise” according to him.
The new series doesn’t look much like a cowboy movie with a sentient car instead of a horse, but it seems to have retained the bullshit premise though.
I think what Glen A Larson didn’t mention was how Knight Rider was inspired by Speedracer…^
That’s your bs premise.
Nawed, instead of morphing into a Viper it should just be a Viper to begin with.
Dodge Viper would have at least been more futuristic looking. IMO
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Also Jae Senn, I meant Larsons’s bs premise not you…:)
Jae Senn, No mention of the molecular bonded shell? Nice piece of continuity work there. This may well be better than I expected if they’re paying that much attention to detail.
Also, has it been confirmed that this KITT is a new character and not just the old one transplanted into a new vehicle? So far I haven’t heard anything definitive on that point.
And, steve, this is not a reboot of Knight Rider, but rather a sequel/spin-off. The main character here is the son of the main character from the original series.
Thanks Flamestrike, but I’m not sure I’m diggin this?
When I first saw the photos of New KITT, I thought it was just more crappy Photoshop. This new show is going to tank. The general consensus of the fanbase is that the Mustang is just too boxy and ugly to be KITT. The scanner doesn’t even look right. The only people watching this show will be kids, and chances are they’ll hate it too.
This 2001 Firebird woulda been waaay better.
http://knightreplicas.com/database/pictures/Alternative-0000000007-0000000011.jpg
YES! The 2001 Firebird would have been better! I love that car!
I would have settled for one of the newer Camaro’s too. It’s retro, but futuristic looking as well. I cringe every time I see a promo for the new KR movie now. Thank God for my DVR, just fast forward…move along, there’s nothing to see here indeed!!!
P.S. I envision a Ford filled movie. I’m willing to bet all we’ll see is Ford vehicles in this poor attempt at a revamp.
The new KITT looks more like a piece of garbage that came straight out of a Mad Max movie rather than a futuristic looking car like the Trans Am was in the 80’s. C’mon, it’s plain sight that the show will be a crap.
The only reason why kids will hate the new Knight rider is if parents shout about how dire it will be before they see it. So in the best interests of getting the show to be a world wide hit as was the original, keep your opionions to yourself, look at it in a positive manor and realise that just like Doctor Who, who returned with a new interior for the Tardis, upgraded versions do work (best not mention Galactica, now that is dire).
Steve,
I highly doubt this “upgraded” version will work. And I DO NOT want to see it become a “hit”. The only reason is because it does not appear to be at all loyal to original show. I envision one long Ford commercial.
They might as well call it KIOT: Knight Industries One Thousand!
Just being totally silly and immature in your outlook. It shows that alot of people dont like change, however, you also need to realise Turbo boosts and more car functionality will appear in TV series, as they need 20 cars for that of which 5 are usually in a workshop being repaired (someone by now would realise, I know what I am talking about).
Yes it would be nice if it only had one red light on it, yes it would be nice to see a turbo boost, but currently its hasnt (yet_, so until the event horizon, try to become positive in your outlook on life.
It’s not that I don’t like change. Sometimes, yes; sometimes, no. It’s not the change aspect that upsets me about this upcoming fiasco.
It’s NBC’s choice to totally ignore some of the key factors of the original series. I know they don’t make the Firebird anymore. And, yes, I AM partial to that line. It is my all time favorite car! Yes, I would have liked to see it still be a Firebird or at least some other GM vehicle.
If they decide to switch to Ford or any other manufacturer, that’s they’re choice. But at least choose a futuristic looking car. Or modify it enough so it looks futuristic.
Think about movies like “Total Recall” or other movies that supposedly take place in the “future”. Looking back at them now, all those square vehicles they use are totally unrealistic and laughable. I can’t watch a movie like that without laughing at the poor futuristic vision of the creator.
The split light isn’t that big of a deal. But why make K.I.T.T. a box now? How is that futuristic??? Wow, a fast, square car! Not impressive. At least when you look back at the original series, the car still looks cool and futuristic. The same won’t be said about this incarnation.
My last peeve, is why name the main character Mike? The original character was Michael. They are just alienating those of us that were loyal to the original series. Call him Dave, Charlie, Lloyd, but not Mike. Those of us who are used to “Hello Michael” just won’t like to hear “Hello Mike”. It’s almost an insult.
Like I said before, this is just going to be a long Ford commercial. Fords everywhere! I bet the truck will even be some sort of Ford. Just like Transformers where just about every car was a GM brand!
There won’t be anything viral about that advertisement!!!
And the “Mike” thing just sounds wierd compared to “Michael.” They should have gone with a completely different name.
Vic
Keep opinions to yourself?
What’s the fun in that?
I have to agree that this doesn’t look good, though it’s certainly not looking like the worst of the Knight Rider revival attempts. Still, it does look, to me, like they did make some attempt at continuity with the original, which does give me some hope for it.
When it comes to KITT, though, I have to agree that the Mustang just doesn’t look right. It’s got too bulky a look to it for the fast, sleek character we remember from the original. Still, if this is the Knight 3000 instead of the Knight 2000, I suppose it’s possible that the new look could suit a new character, as opposed to the old character in a new vehicle. This is one issue that will have to be addressed in the movie if they want this new car to work. Still, it’s not like this is the first time Fords have been used as Foundation vehicles, so it’s not as jarring a change as it could be.
As for the issue of the driver’s name, “Mike Tracer” doesn’t bother me. Again, this is something that will work better if they address the issue of whether the 2000 personality is in the 3000 or if the 3000 is an all new personality. In any case, the name reuse in and of itself doesn’t bother me.
Personally, I’m not completely writing this off, and I’m actually looking forward to seeing this. Whether I want it to go to series, though, is a decision I’m holding off on until I see this movie. I have serious doubts, but I’ll give it a chance to convince me.
My point has been proven. You dont like change, those who dont like change feel hard done by. The whole point of the characters name of Mike is because he is the love child of Mr HOFFS character. If I was Christian Steve I expect to be called Steve not Stephen or Steven. Just chill, I can tell you that the car isnt 500horsepower either, thats an exageration by Ford, its actually only 460+ at the very best, as advised by Top Gear, the UK’s number one car motoring TV and magazine programme.
What your also forgetting is that this car in comparrison to others will get Ford out of debt hopefully, its a car that looks beefy because it needs to be in the tougher world we live in, further more the explanation as to why there is a new shape/design will be clear to you all very soon.
Take some valium, go for a run, just chill. You will get your answers very soon. My nephews aged 4&7 have seen the repeats of the old programme, they dont care as long as its cool, its pointless even replying as your only going to get another coronary from thinking too much on matters that are quite small in comparrison to having to pay your mortgage, pay the bills and obeying the law, so in the grand scheme of things, CHILL
Change is a relative thing steve.
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Some changes suck and some changes are welcomed.
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If you were talking about say Star Trek and the producers changed the overall look and design of the Enterprise I can assure you people would not like the change.
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If tomarrow the Fed’s said that they were going to change the color of the US flag to red, white and green, I’m betting some folk would be upset with that change.
(Change is relative)….
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Alot of fans of Knight Rider are alot like the fans of Star Trek, they don’t like drastic changes. If you can’t see this and continue to prove to yourself that were all taking this to hard then good for you.
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Telling readers of Screenrant to chill is the fastest way to get negative feedback. Everyone has opinions and this is a forum to discuss them, not to prove points on change.
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Ps
Knight Rider isn’t going to save Ford.
Ford should have started to make better cars years ago….
Change can be good if it’s done -RIGHT-
Like if they had made KITT a 2001 Firebird with some modifications to make it look unique. What they did with the new Dr. Who is fantastic. And BSG too, if you can get past the fact they gave Starbuck a sex change. But what NBC did with KR is a total half-ass and they themselves probably doubt it will do well.
I bet until they heard about Glen’s movie, doing a KR revival was the furthest thing from NBC exec’s minds. The general consensus among fans is that the new show is going to suck because it’s not KITT. The look of the dash is laughable. The production photos looked like cheap photoshop.
Whether or not Michale Knight (The Hoff) is in it or not isn’t even important. The -CAR- is the star, and it is the most crucial piece of it. NBC doesn’t give a damn about the fans or making a good show, they just care about the money they’re getting from Ford to advertise their cars. Pontiac’s should’ve been HAPPY to have such great product association, but NOOOOOO…
What KITT _SHOULD HAVE BEEN_
http://knightreplicas.com/database/pictures/Alternative-0000000007-0000000011.jpg
Kitsune_Baka damm right bro! Change can totally be awesome, if its done right!
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Firebird , Viper, anything but a Mustang…
This Knight Rider reboot could be a sucess with just the right slant. Buts its looking bad.
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Btw.,the new Doctor Who is an amazing show, BS Galactica is impressive as well. I can get over the female Starbuck no prob.
(Even though she is kinda masculan). Uh hmm. (NWIM):)
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The guy that plays Baltar is real good because I hate that guy (and that’s good acting) cause i really hate that guy!!!!!
I can’t picture KITT as a Viper, though that may be because the Viper’s already had it’s own show.
Flamestrike I was just throwing that out there.
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I think a Viper would be better than this Tang maybe I’m wrong?
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I don’t remember the Viper having its own show???
It did, in the mid-90’s. It ran total of 4 seasons, The first on NBC, who canceled it because it was too expensive, the remaining three in first-run syndication after a year or so off the air.
The basic idea of the show was that a special team was using a modified/specially built Viper to fight crime. When the driver hit a hidden switch, the car morphed into a armored and armed pursuit vehicle. The morphing effect in season was was, reportedly, the main reason the show was so expensive to make, and after NBC canceled the show, the series was revamped, given to a new effects house, recast, and brought back for three more seasons.
The Viper may not have been a character in its own right, unlike KITT, but it was very much as central to the show as KITT is to KR.
Wow FlameStrike I have no recall on that show…. Cool info. Was the show called “Viper”?
Yes, it was. And I’m hoping Paramount will bring it out on DVD one of these days.
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