A movie adaptation of Knight Rider is in the works from James Wan. Knight Rider first aired on NBC from 1982-1986 and was the kickstarter to David Hasselhoff's career before his starring role in the hit series Baywatch. Created by Glen A. Larson, Knight Rider starred Hasselhoff as Michael Knight, a crime fighter assisted by his artificially intelligent Pontiac Trans Am, KITT.
Knight Rider would go on to inspire spinoff TV shows, movies, and video games, with Hasselhoff even reprising his role in the 1991 TV movie, Knight Rider 2000, and appearing in an episode of the 2008 revival series. Both projects were intended to lead to new series that were never picked up. A film adaptation of Knight Rider had been in talks for a while, with different directors' names attached to the project over the years, including Guardians of the Galaxy writer-director James Gunn and Star Trek Beyond's Justin Lin. Now Michael and KITT are officially reuniting on the big screen.
Spyglass Media Group is teaming up with Atomic Monster's James Wan and Michael Clear to adapt the classic 80's series into a feature film. According to Deadline, the reboot will be a present-day take on the series while keeping the anti-establishment theme of the original. Other plot details of the project have not yet been announced. Former video game writer TJ Fixman is adapting the screenplay and Judson Scott serves as executive producer.
Wan has been the director behind popular horror films like Saw and the first two Insidious and The Conjuring movies. He also reached box office milestones as a director for the blockbuster hits Aquaman and Furious 7. His production company was behind the Annabelle movies and other Conjuring spinoffs, as well as the DC Universe series Swamp Thing. Fixman has written screenplays for a number of films and his video game writing credits on the Ratchet & Clank series and Resistance: Fall of Man.
While most details of the reboot are being kept under wraps, fans of the cult classic series are likely relieved a Knight Rider movie is finally being made. The modern-day take will be interesting to see, especially with how the super car will look considering how much special effects have advanced since the 80's. The Knight Rider movie seems to be in good hands with director Wan, as he directed the very similar Furious 7. Fan should expect the epic car chases and intense action sequences that made the series so popular in its day.
Source: Deadline