Knight Rider movie being developed

KNIGHT RIDER was one of the most popular TV series of the 80's, it was the show that made David Hasselhoff a household name. Now a movie adaptation of this show is being developed, and (Wild Hogs) screenwriter Brad Copeland has already been hired, indicating that this project is ineed moving along. The Weinstein Company, which owns the feature rights to the property, is aiming for a more high-octane, action-oriented adaptation, to catch up on the hype and the popularity of movies like the Fast & Furious movies. There are talks that David Hasselhoff, star of the original series, will be involved with the new version in one way or another, on the other hand, there is no word on whether Mr. Feeny (William Daniels) will return to voice the role of K.I.T.T., the extremely advanced and indestructible vehicle that was featured in the 80s original. [hit the jump to read the rest of the article]

The LA Times reports that Copeland will join the Knight Rider feature adaptation in order to get the picture rolling.  Though Knight Rider was previously adapted for another TV series run in 2008, the time might be ripe for a movie version.  The story centers on Michael Knight, a police detective reborn into a modern high-tech crime fighter by billionaire Wilton Knight.  Michael becomes an agent of Foundation for Law and Government (FLAG), along with his vehicular partner, K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand).  The car was originally a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am and then was reimagined as a Ford Shelby GT500KR for the reboot.  No telling what Copeland will come up with for the feature (or which company will get in on the ground floor of product placement).  In a movie world where Fast and the Furious owns the streets and Need for Speed is attempting to muscle in, perhaps there’s room for Knight Rider as well.

Copeland has also been attached to a feature adaptation of Gilligan’s Island for Warner Bros.  His directorial debut, the R-rated indie comedy Coffee Town, will appear in limited release and On Demand starting July 9th.

To those who are not familiar with the series, Knight Rider is about a self-made billionaire Wilton Knight rescues police detective Michael Arthur Long after a near fatal shot to the face, giving him a new identity (via plastic surgery) and a new name: Michael Knight. Wilton selects Michael to be the primary field agent in the pilot program of his public justice organization, the Foundation for Law and Government (FLAG). The other half of this pilot program is the Knight Industries Two Thousand (KITT), a heavily modified Pontiac Firebird Trans Am with numerous features including an extremely durable shell and frame, controlled by a computer with artificial intelligence. Michael and KITT are brought in during situations where "direct action might provide the only feasible solution".

Heading FLAG is Devon Miles, who provides Michael with directives and guidance. Dr. Bonnie Barstow is the chief engineer in charge of KITT's care, as well as technical assistant to Devon (April Curtis fills this role in Season 2).

What do you guys think? Will Knight Rider be as successful as it was in the 80's? Who do you think should star as Michael Knight?

source: Collider