December 2007 Archives

NBC during Sunday Night Football tonight, aired a 15 second preview for the new Knight Rider TV movie. It featured a sneak peak at the new KITT, which we had shown here before. More excitingly it also was the first time we heard the voice of KITT, as done by Will Arnett.

So alot has happened since NBC's announcement last week. We did our best to cover it live in our forums - but here is the summary for you! We'll post tomorrow with more line by line details about each of these articles and what we know about the tv movie as a whole so far.

Photos from the NBC press event:

• Cast & Vehicle shots
• Exterior shots of KITT
• Video's of the KITTs in action
  

Coverage of the NBC press event:

• Access Hollywood
• Attack of the Show
  
• KNBC
• E! Online
• IGN TV

On Hasselhoff's involvement (from OK Magazine):

Executive producer David Bartis told OK! that Hasselhoff’s participation was essential. “The audience wants to see that... He’s such a part of the legacy of the show,” Bartis explained to OK! “He loves Knight Rider. I think it’s something that’s really important to him — and that it’s done the right way.” New star Justin revealed to OK! that he’s a fan of the original and that working with David was “cool. I walked on set and he comes on. I’m like, ‘Wow. It’s not a dream!’ ” Justin even pointed out that he and David share similar backgrounds: “We both started on soaps and we both left them about the same time.” Another of the stars, Deanna Russo, said she was just as thrilled to work with Hasselhoff, 55. “I just kept having to laugh to myself and think, oh, my goodness, this is the man who was such a hero to me when I was a little girl,” she said.

From the cast (source CommingSoon):

This "Knight Rider" is a sequel to the original series, which Justin says is definitely a plus for the storyline. "Being a fan of the show, I was very excited about; I didn't want them to mess with [it] – you don't mess with 'the original' anything, it's never really as good. I love the fact that it just continues the story, and there's a huge gap, so within this show, we can go backwards, forwards. We can do anything because there are huge gaps in there to fill in."

We've just received a copy of the following press release. In it NBC talks about the new Knight Rider series and confirms alot of key points and items we just recently told you about. Hasselhoff is a guest start, Will Arnett is the voice of KITT, they even talk about KITTs new 'transform' modes. Is everyone else as excited as I am?

 

'KNIGHT RIDER' REVS UP TO RETURN TO NBC FOR SPECIAL TWO-HOUR MOVIE EVENT ON FEBRUARY 17 AS NEW KITT CAR IS REVEALED

"Knight Rider" Cast Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo, Sydney Tamiia Poitier and Bruce Davison Participate at the Unveiling Event Showcasing the Customized KITT Ford Mustang to Be Featured in Movie

Dave Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C.") and Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity") to Serve as Executive Producers; David Hasselhoff, the Star of the Original "Knight Rider" Series, Appears as a Special Guest Star in His Original Role as Michael Knight

NBC Also Forms Partnership with Ford Motor Company That Provides for Unique Content Opportunity

BURBANK - December 12, 2007 - As "Knight Rider" -- NBC's iconic 1980s television classic that became a runaway success, comes roaring back to life on the network with an updated sequel that will air as a two-hour movie event on Sunday, February 17 (9-11 p.m. ET) -- NBC unveiled the new customized KITT Ford Mustang to be featured in the series in a press event held at NBC's Burbank Studios today.

The movie stars Justin Bruening ("Cold Case," "All My Children"), Deanna Russo ("NCIS," "The Young and the Restless"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Veronica Mars," "Grindhouse") and Bruce Davison ("Breach," "Close to Home"). In addition, David Hasselhoff (NBC's "America's Got Talent") -- who starred in the popular lead role as Michael Knight for four seasons during the original series -- returns as the same character in a special guest-star appearance. Will Arnett (NBC's "30 Rock," "Blades of Glory") will provide the voice of KITT.

Dave Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C.") and Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity") serve as executive producers. NBC also has an arrangement with Ford Motor Company that provides for a unique content opportunity that makes the Ford Mustang one of the stars of the movie.

The three cars to be employed in the series include the KITT Hero -- a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that is playing the part of the everyday Hero car with 540 horsepower; the KITT Attack -- a super high-speed version of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR Hero car that transforms into Attack mode with the help of air-ride technology and specialized body parts -- and a KITT Remote, which is a driverless Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR version of the Hero vehicle.

As the original story resumes, the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) is absolutely the coolest car ever created: its supercomputer capable of hacking almost any system; its weapons systems efficient; and its body -- thanks to its creator's work and nanotechnology -- is capable of actually shifting shape and color. Plus, its artificial intelligence makes it the ideal crime-fighting partner: logical, precise and possessing infinite knowledge. It is the ultimate car -- and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it.

Sarah Graiman is a 24-year old Ph.D candidate at Stanford University, following in her genius father Charles' (Davison) footsteps. But when men attempt to abduct her, Sarah receives a mysterious call from KITT warning her that he's a creation of Charles, who also invented the first KITT 25 years ago -- and that her father is in serious danger.

Sarah and KITT track down her best friend from childhood, Mike Tracer (Bruening), a 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger, whom Sarah hasn't seen since he left home at 18. Having served in Iraq, Mike is now jaded and lost and initially resistant. Eventually he agrees to help Sarah and the two set out to discover who's behind the attempt to procure KITT and find Charles. Along the way, Carrie Rivai (Poitier) plays the agile yet tough FBI agent who has a long-standing friendship with Charles and Sarah. Due to those ties, she is brought into the mix to help in the search.

David Andron is supervising producer and writer. Steve Shill ("Dexter," "The Tudors"), also a co-executive producer, directs the two-hour movie from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.

[source]

Over the last few weeks we've heard of a number of tidbits that we haven't mentioned here yet. These items are considered rumors as they have been submitted to us anonymously or mentioned on other sites and they have not been verified as legit by NBCUniversal.

While we believe them all to be true, take them with a grain of salt until an official word comes out.

• The new KITT will be a Shelby Mustang [source]
• The ORIGINAL KITT will make an appearance - we've only heard not complete as the pictures show [source]
  
• David Hasselhoff shot his scenes Monday Nov 26. [anonymous]
• Will Arrnet (Arrested Development) will be the voice of the new KITT [anonymous]
• Tentatively scheduled to air Feb '08. Shooting is taking place in LA right now, with principal photography to be done by the end of the year. [anonymous]

Michael Parjaro let this tidbit out today:

This week NBC will be releasing teaser footage for their new Knight Rider project. I can't say that they will be airing commercials yet, but keep an eye on all of the entertainment shows. They will be getting media kits this week.

No further information is given. But when it's released (and we hopefully get our copy!) we will be sure to share it here!

[originally]