In a world full of unnecessary reboots, it’s nice to see the relaunch of a series that is actually over the age of thirty. 1970s cop show Starsky & Hutch is the next TV series to be resurrected, with development underway at Sony Pictures Television Studios.
Created by William Blinn, Starsky & Hutch originally aired as a TV movie in 1975 which then extended into a series eventually made up of 92 episodes by 1979. It centered on two detectives, streetwise David Michael Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) and by-the-book Kenneth Richard “Hutch” Hutchinson (David Soul) as they patrolled the California streets in their red Gran Torino.
Of course, the cops were briefly brought back to life in the 2004 film which starred Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson as Starsky & Hutch; the film earned over $170 million worldwide, but did not allow for the reintegration of the cops into our lives that a television series will. The reboot, reportedly, will consist of character driven, hour-long episodes. The project, however, is still on the market.
Guardians of the Galaxy writer/director James Gunn will pen the script for the reboot, with the potential of directing the project, too. Of course he’s very busy, now with the production of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the final installment of the series, so an immediate commitment to directing Starsky & Hutch might prove difficult.
That said, Gunn has a certain knack for emanating ’70s vibes. For Guardians, Gunn helmed the musical playlist of the film. Whilst Tyler Bates composed the score, Gunn listened to hundreds of songs from the 60s and 70s in an effort to create an authentic, groovy feel nostalgic to the period. He certainly delivered, topping the Billboard Top Soundtracks for 11 consecutive weeks with the first album.
James Gunn’s brother, Brian, and cousin, Mark Gunn, will reportedly help with the script, each also executive producing alongside Sony’s Neal Moritz. Moritz is no stranger to reboots, contributing to the re-imagination of 21 Jump Street, Cruel Intentions, and Goosebumps.
With the project still up for sale, it’ll be a while until Starsky & Hutch rematerialise. Under James Gunn’s lead, it’s certainly something to stay excited about.
#Peace.Love.Starsky&Hutch
