Well, well, well. Just when you thought Hollywood had exhausted every possible ’80s property to resurrect, along comes the announcement that’ll make every Gen-Xer weak in the knees. The masterminds behind Netflix’s Cobra Kai phenomenon are officially steering KITT back to the big screen, and honestly, we couldn’t be more here for it.
The Karate Kid Miracle Workers Strike Again
Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald have proven they’ve got the golden touch when it comes to breathing new life into beloved ’80s franchises. These three creative wizards transformed The Karate Kid from nostalgic memory into a six-season cultural juggernaut that dominated Netflix’s most-watched lists. Now they’re setting their sights on another iconic property that defined Saturday night television for an entire generation.
“I suggest you fasten your seatbelts, everyone. Knight Rider is coming!” Hurwitz enthusiastically announced on Instagram. “So excited to dig into another old ’80s favorite! Grateful to be teaming up with the incredible teams at 87 North and Spyglass!” The trio will write the screenplay and produce through their Counterbalance Entertainment banner, with Hurwitz and Schlossberg also in early talks to direct.
Action Mastermind David Leitch Joins the Crew
Enter David Leitch, the billion-dollar action director who co-created the John Wick franchise and delivered blockbusters like Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, and The Fall Guy. Leitch and his producing partner Kelly McCormick will bring their 87North expertise to this Knight Rider movie project, virtually guaranteeing the action sequences will be absolutely bonkers.
The 87North team recently proved they could successfully modernize classic TV properties with The Fall Guy, another Glen A. Larson creation that starred Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. Their track record with high-octane, character-driven action makes them the perfect fit for Michael Knight’s adventures.
Remembering the Original KITT Magic
For those who somehow missed the cultural phenomenon, Knight Rider aired on NBC from 1982 to 1986, starring David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight, a crime-fighting agent partnered with KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand), an artificially intelligent, nearly indestructible Trans Am. The show’s ridiculous premise, memorable synth theme, and William Daniels’ iconic voice work as KITT created television gold that spawned multiple spinoffs and TV movies.
The original series, created by prolific producer Glen A. Larson, became a defining show of the decade with its perfect blend of action, technology, and ’80s cheese. KITT’s red scanner light and sarcastic personality made the car as much a character as Hasselhoff’s leather-jacket-wearing hero.
Production Powerhouse Behind the Wheel
Universal Pictures is backing this Knight Rider movie with serious firepower. Gary Barber and Chris Stone from Spyglass Entertainment join the producing team, while Universal’s Matt Reilly (Executive Vice President of Production Development) and Tony Ducret (Director of Development) will supervise the project. Previous attempts at a film adaptation included scripts by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, plus a shelved version that James Wan was set to produce.
This marks the first theatrical feature film based on the franchise, following multiple TV movies and the short-lived 2008 series reboot. With the proven track record of everyone involved and the current nostalgia-driven entertainment landscape, this Knight Rider movie has all the ingredients to be the sleeper hit nobody saw coming.
Production Credits:
- Writers/Producers: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, Josh Heald (Cobra Kai)
- Producers: David Leitch, Kelly McCormick (87North Productions)
- Producers: Gary Barber, Chris Stone (Spyglass Entertainment)
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Original Creator: Glen A. Larson
- Production Companies: Counterbalance Entertainment, 87North, Spyglass