In line with CBS' plan to develop a TV pilot based on the classic '80s series, the studio reveals plan to re-envision the franchise.
- Feb 6, 2016
AceShowbiz - A "MacGyver" movie is still on. On Friday, February 5 morning, Lionsgate announced its plans to reboot the popular '80s series for the big screen as part of its development deal with CBS.
Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer revealed its partnership with CBS during earnings call with analysts. "I'm also pleased to announce this morning that we've joined with our friends at CBS on a development deal to re-envision the MacGyver franchise in film and television, with CBS taking the lead on the TV show and Lionsgate taking the lead on the film," Feltheimer said.
The TV pilot adaptation hails from scribe Paul Downs Colaizzo and executive producer Henry Winkler. James Wan is attached to direct the pilot. The show has been described as "a reimagining of the television series of the same name, following a 20-something MacGyver as he gets recruited into a clandestine organization where he uses his knack for solving problems in unconventional ways to help prevent disasters from happening."
Meanwhile, the movie reboot has "21 Jump Street" producer Neal H. Moritz and original "MacGyver" creator Lee David Zlotoff on board as producers. While the TV show would focus on MacGyver in his college years, the angle for the movie is yet known. The original series ran for seven seasons until 1992 on ABC and spawned two TV movies in 1994.
Back in March 2009, another plan to revive "MacGyver" as a feature film was announced. It was about to be produced by Raffaella De Laurentiis, daughter of "Hannibal Rising" producer Dino De Laurentiis, through her Raffaella Productions along with Martha De Laurentiis and series creator Lee Zlotoff. New Line Cinema was shepherding the project and searching for a screenwriter but the plan did not move forward.
