The Flashdance television show has entered development from Dear White People creator Justin Simien. Based on the 2014 film of the same name written and directed by Simien, Dear White People hit Netflix in 2017 and quickly caught on for its progressive exploration of issues surrounding race relations in a modern American landscape, the fictional Ivy League institution Winchester University. The show released its fourth and final season in September 2021.
Released in 1983, the hit film Flashdance follows a young cabaret dancer and steel mill worker who aspires to become a professional ballerina. The lead character, Alex, is played by Jennifer Beals, who now stars as a Twi'lek Garsa Fwip in the Disney+ Star Wars series The Book of Boba Fett. A Flashdance reboot show has been in the works at Paramount+ since October 2020 when it was still known as CBS All Access. While Runaways scribe Tracy McMillan and The Haves and the Have Nots actress Angela Robinson were previously tapped to write and direct, the series is now making some changes creatively.
During Paramount+'s TCA presentation, it was announced that Justin Simien has come aboard the Flashdance TV series. The Dear White People creator will adapt and direct the contemporary take on the classic film. Simien has seemingly taken over for McMillan and Robinson.
Clearly, Paramount+'s objective with its Flashdance series is to update the classic film for modern audiences, and they couldn't have found a better showrunner for the job than Simien, who has already had success translating a feature film to television, albeit his own movie. Although some will take issue with Simien spearheading a project about a young woman instead of a female writer, he had success with Dear White People, which centers on a female protagonist, so there's no reason to believe he won't deliver with Flashdance as well.
Since the 1983 film is largely unknown to younger audiences (other than it being referenced by Deadpool 2), Simien has a special opportunity with the Flashdance series to breath new life into a classic story. The film already carries several themes that are still relevant today, such as modern femininity and a woman's sense of self-worth. Case in point, Flashdance has been begging to be remade, and a talent like Simien being brought on board brings it one step closer to becoming a reality.