why does it take so long to make a KNIGHT RIDER MOVIE?

[knight56]

Its the year 2010..and there has been talks about a real KNIGHT RIDER MOVIE since 1999..lol how sad is that? It will be sad if there is a new KR movie 12 years from now...what do you think?

[rwmu]

Film making is a long and difficult process, Knight Rider has its own special problems with split rights, production company problems and apart for the inital series pretty much failure after failure with relaunches.

I think KR:The Movie needs someone in charge who loves the show but won't be bogged down in the background, imagine what it could be like with the KR equivlent of the nuBSG production team or even better like the New Doctor Who production team fans of the show but with a wealth of experience in other Film/TV genres.

[krrdr2010]

It's taking so long beause there are too many people involved, and the idea isn't very good. Remaking the Pilot episode as a movie-BAD IDEA!!! Create a new idea, Have the Hoff reprise his role as Michael Knight, maybe have him train a protege to take over, and then do the film.

[GT500KR]

its like the talks of Halo: The movie........they know its could be a gold mine, but they just dont want to do it. like with the Halo Series, Bungie has the rights, but Microsoft is trying to get the sole rights.

like someone said before me, to many people are involved and they cant come up with a story.

the main reason, no big production studio wants to put out the $$$, they know it would probably be heavy in CGI and what not, that is pretty expensive when they try to make it look as reason as possible ie; Transformers

[WIBoomer1]

No, you need to re-tell the tale of someone getting striped of everything they had, family, career, a face and identity, all gone in one shot. That burns. smolders. a baptism of fire, wanting to make what once was wrong right. add a savior who offers help in the form of artificial intelligence inside the world's most technologically advanced automobile, and charge that person to give others hope, that one man can make a difference....

Sigh...

It's all about the rights, and who wants to pony up the cash to make a movie. I think that even though there is a fan base out there, the real reason that it's not already sitting on your DVD case as a already completed project is that too many heads are butting against each other, and there is no clear vision that everyone can agree to. Without strong leadership, and knowledge from first shot to fading end, things get way too muddied too quickly, resulting in udder crap.

[Victor Kros]

No, you need to re-tell the tale of someone getting striped of everything they had, family, career, a face and identity, all gone in one shot. That burns. smolders. a baptism of fire, wanting to make what once was wrong right. add a savior who offers help in the form of artificial intelligence inside the world's most technologically advanced automobile, and charge that person to give others hope, that one man can make a difference....

Sigh...

It's all about the rights, and who wants to pony up the cash to make a movie. I think that even though there is a fan base out there, the real reason that it's not already sitting on your DVD case as a already completed project is that too many heads are butting against each other, and there is no clear vision that everyone can agree to. Without strong leadership, and knowledge from first shot to fading end, things get way too muddied too quickly, resulting in udder crap.

- I would agree to what WIBoomer1 stated. You also have to take into consideration studio dishonesty and egos in Hollywood. They are the reason the movie is taking so long to get made.

Glen is doing everything he can to bring Knight Rider to the big screen but he wants to make sure his vision is maintained and that the movie doesn't disappoint by being mired down in too much eye candy and not enough story substance.

It is a very difficult process to juggle with many revisions along the way to get to the final product. It takes the right group of people, the right studio to finance a blockbuster movie which takes at least $100 million to make and distribute it, and finally the right creative team to put it all together. The movie script has been ready to go at various stages of completion, the problem is a firm and dedicated commitment by studios to take it to the next level.

Each time a studio decides to drop the ball or let their options expire, a new script has to be created which means you have to start over and re-create Knight Rider with a different approach every single time and that's extremely difficult when you want to keep the same elements in tact that made Knight Rider what it is. To rebuild that mythology that fans will expect and recognize while keeping things current and unique for new fans to enjoy.

I'm as frustrated as everyone else out there about the movie not being made yet but I can assure you that your dedication, patience, and most importantly your faith is not being ignored or forgotten. Glen is doing everything he can to see his motion picture dreams come to life. He wants to see a movie happen in his lifetime just as much as you do. His goal right now is by 2012.

=VK=

[sarfraz]

Hey Victor, I wonder why you need to start over when a studio lets their option expire? doesn't that mean that the same script/conceopt can then be optioned to another studio?

Just curious as I don't really know how studio contracts work. I'd assume that once a contract has expired, then your able to do what you want.....unless of course theres small print stating otherwise

[TurboBoostMan]

Glen Larson was gonna make a Knight Rider motion picture in 2007 but he stopped production.

[Victor Kros]

Glen Larson was gonna make a Knight Rider motion picture in 2007 but he stopped production.

Glen stopped production because Revolution Studios didn't want K.I.T.T. to talk, among other creative differences. Fans would have hated their vision of what they felt Knight Rider needed to be.

sarfarz - It has to do with the legalities involved with attaching involvement with a script. Say person "A" wants to get a movie made and desires to write the script which is not yet written when a deal is negotiated. A deal is then struck and person "A" works on the script they agreed to deliver. Then the studio asks person "B", "C", and "D" to revise/polish the original script person "A" agreed to write - within this mixture of different contributions to the first script, the original intentions are lost to studio involvement. Because of copyright issues for each revision to said script, that script becomes property of the studio who originally commisioned it to be written by person "A". Person "A" no longer has exclusive rights to whatever the most current revision is so they are not free to take it to another studio because trace elements of the original script are now in the studio owned revised script.

That's really the easiest way I can explain it. Each time you pitch a script to a new studio, they want to get involved with injecting their ideas and concerns to structure said script to their liking and slap their name on it. So when Glen wishes to pitch his concept of Knight Rider to a new studio because of another studio's failure to deliver a finished movie, he doesn't want another previous rival studio to claim he's using their ideas while he works with a new studio that will compete with them. I believe it also falls under a "no compete" clause but it really depends greatly on the terms of the contract that are set into place before a deal is closed.

=VK=

[rwmu]

Lets hope you're right about the 2012 date VK because nothing lasts forever not even famous TV Producers and without Glen around the film will be made either money grabbing Fim producers which will result in a product that is full of flashy effects, product placement and zero story or Professional Fans which will result in a continuity heavy, slush fest with to much story and loads of embarasment that will bomb when released.

All the film needs is the basics that made the show in the first place, sporty looking black car with a red scanner, good looking but boy next doorish driver, posh farther figure boss and cute techie girl. That's what the general public remembers of the show, and if we want a film that honours what we love thats what we need.

[sarfraz]

Thanks Victor. Sounds like a frustrating but necessary process in getting the film going. I've lost count of the amount times I've heard another studio involved in the KR film....so each time a new script has to be written!

[Nicholas Knight]

I hate that there are so many studios who may want KR, but want it in THEIR Image and not caring about the fans who already know the FEEL of KR. It was about One man making a difference, and One amazing car who was a companion, a partner. Not a Weapon (Viper) and not an overflashy, super expensive car who would hate to be offroad! So many makes and remakes without true fan input ends up a crappy mess who noone likes but the writer and producer. What's next, MacGyver?

[knight56]

well who knows..KNIGHT RIDER HAS A HUGE fan base..but thats it..

[DevonStyles]

which will result in a product that is full of flashy effects, product placement and zero story or Professional Fans which will result in a continuity heavy, slush fest with to much story and loads of embarasment that will bomb when released.

Sounds like the nbc08 version

[Nicholas Knight]

If the producers are TRUE fans of the series, I believe they could truly revive the franchise. They might could have David Hasslehoff do a small cameo, but if they capture the FEEL of KR, they wouldn't really need him. It's bad but "Hammer and Coop", a parody of KR has a better FEEL than the 2008 series. And the SuperCar was a Mini Cooper! And didn't cost half as much to make! The FEEL is the most important thing to captivate the audience. Or you can add KR to the list of NONFAN movies like Super Mario Bros, Double Dragon, DragonBall Evolution, and Street Fighter- Chun Li. If they create a movie without the things that made it popular in the first place, its gonna suck no matter how much $$ they put in it.

[Michael Pajaro]

Warning: I'm about to enter "The Spin Zone", which means I'll be saying things which are mostly true, to somewhat artificially create a more positive perspective.

Yes, it seems like it's taking forever for Knight Rider to make it to the big screen. But one thing to keep in mind is that many, MANY motion pictures are "in development" for years and years. It probably seems like the A Team movie was made very quickly. That's because we didn't really hear much about it until they actually started casting for it. But I think the first grumblings of an A Team movie started happening like 5 years ago? Maybe more? And you can bet those fans were very frustrated by it.

There are certainly bandwagon movies which try to jump on whatever the latest fad is and they get rushed into production and they usually stink. But while it seems to us like it's taking forever for Knight Rider, the timeline isn't really that unusual for Hollywood.

All that being said, I think we've waited long enough

[Milo]

why at least cant we have a kr movie like Starsky and Hutch or The A TEAM at least they got the cars pretty much right and the feel , at least starsky and hutch i enjoyed more than the Dukes of hazzard movie, but at least they went back with the orginal feel of the cars... if you can gather what im thinking of here

[Victor Kros]

why at least cant we have a kr movie like Starsky and Hutch or The A TEAM at least they got the cars pretty much right and the feel , at least starsky and hutch i enjoyed more than the Dukes of hazzard movie, but at least they went back with the orginal feel of the cars... if you can gather what im thinking of here

-Because neither of those properties require their cars to be the car of "tomorrow" with the technology ahead of its time - different context entirely for Knight Rider as opposed to Starsky and Hutch or Dukes of Hazzard which had pretty much failures or dismal success as motion pictures, despite using the original cars. I really wish people would stop comparing the three as an example to use the Trans Am today, it just doesn't work. We love the Trans Am, it always will be the original and first KITT but it's time to open your minds up to new and exciting possibilities. Unlike NBCU and their drastic change to the Shelby Mustang which has no relation to the original Trans Am whatsoever, at least Glen wants to try and meet the fans halfway with his retelling of KR today but it's a two way street.

=VK=

[tamatt27]

why at least cant we have a kr movie like Starsky and Hutch or The A TEAM at least they got the cars pretty much right and the feel , at least starsky and hutch i enjoyed more than the Dukes of hazzard movie, but at least they went back with the orginal feel of the cars... if you can gather what im thinking of here

Oh good lord please no!
Knight Rider suffered from the camp that is the 80's. The problem with that is that any reboot will have to find the right mix of nostalgia and modern interpretation. Too much nostalgia and it will fall into the Starsky and Hutch, Dukes of Hazzard category. There was entirely too much camp in those movies because they couldn't take themselves seriously.
From the previews, it looks as if The A-Team has found a mix of modern interpretation and have a little bit of nostalgia sprinkled in for the fans. It takes a serious tone because it's not suffering from too much camp, I believe.
I haven't seen the film yet so I'm making generalizations based off what I've read of it.

[Radicalas]

So The A-Team gets pretty good reviews, it's 7,3 (1,345 votes) on IMDb.com, which was absolutely unexpected, i thought it will reach only 5.0). I hope this will have influence for the studio to start shooting Knight Rider movie. Monday i'll be going to see The A-Team movie.

[The Shadow]

I have high hopes that the A-Team movie will spur some solid development for a Knight Rider movie. Especially, with wanting to capture the "essence" (so to speak) of the original show without turning the movie into a camp-laden imitation (or outright parody). Chances seem good to me, as Hollywood is always keen to duplicate a success when possible.

[Crumbling Down]

I hate that there are so many studios who may want KR, but want it in THEIR Image and not caring about the fans who already know the FEEL of KR. It was about One man making a difference, and One amazing car who was a companion, a partner. Not a Weapon (Viper) and not an overflashy, super expensive car who would hate to be offroad! So many makes and remakes without true fan input ends up a crappy mess who noone likes but the writer and producer. What's next, MacGyver?

Actually Saturday Night Live made a spoof of Macgyver called Magruber which can be seen in theaters now, but don't waste your money. Although one of the original writers of Macgyver is in the process of making a serious Macgyver movie which will be hopefully made sometime soon. I guess it is in the same spot as the KR movie is right now. I am a huge Mac fan.

[Radicalas]

I like MacGyver too, not as much as Knight Rider, but i would still get goosebumps from enjoyment watching it in the theater. Magnum P.I. is on my waiting list too. Loved Miami Vice movie, though it wasn't very successful.

[duke500]

Well I have a suggestion for you guys. My suggeston is
1. If you had control or KR/tv would you base it around the hoff version but with today's version.
Or
2. Help spread the word about KR and it's superbness.
3. Write letters to NBC
4. Start Knight Rider Productions as a production company that produces KR and is supported by KR fans around the world
5. All of them.

[rwmu]

Well I have a suggestion for you guys. My suggeston is
1. If you had control or KR/tv would you base it around the hoff version but with today's version.
Or
2. Help spread the word about KR and it's superbness.
3. Write letters to NBC
4. Start Knight Rider Productions as a production company that produces KR and is supported by KR fans around the world
5. All of them.

How about none of the above

Instread get a decent writer, decent production crew write a good story about a man, a computerised car and a fight against the odds, dump all the extra fan junk that has been piled on over the years. You could have the old stuff in the background for the fans to spot or reintroduce it slowly. These methods worked for Battlestar in the US and Doctor Who in the UK maybe we can learn something from them.

We have to leave behind some of our preconceptions or all we'll get is a comedy film about a camp car and its even more camp driver. We made it into the 21st Centuary do we really want to turn it back 30 years to the 80s.