Update 4/28/14: In an interview with Vulture, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele share that they actually may not be starring in the reboot, contrary to popular assumptions. They’ll definitely act as producers, but, as they told Vulture in a piece published today:
“We’re talking about it. We’re not sure… We’re not even that far yet… I think it’d be cool … our job is to be the creative producer. So ultimately we’re going to make the decision that’s best for the film.”
They added, aware of standard Hollywood studio executive practice, when it comes to financing and casting projects:
“There might be a point where we need somebody way more famous than us.”
I’m certainly not interested in a reboot of the franchise, and, quite frankly, I’m not entirely certain that it’ll be enough of a box office smash, no matter who’s it. I’m just not sure whether audiences will take to that kind of humor today, packed within a 2-hour movie. It works in short skits, but as a feature-length movie, I’m not so sure. Of course, I could be completely wrong about that.
But if there’s a pair that I think could make the film a hit, I think Key & Peele are probably it right now.
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Update 4/7/14: The news were confirmed today by THR. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele (of Key & Peele fame) are officially attached to the produce New Line Cinema’s Police Academy reboot, which will also bring back Paul Maslansky, the original films’ producer.
The reboot hopes to remake the film comedy franchise centering on a disparate group of police recruits called for duty to save the city. Overseeing for New Line Cinema is Sam Brown.
-Vanessa Martinez
See Tambay Obenson’s post from 4 days ago below…
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A planned reboot of the classic 1980s comedy franchise Police Academy at New Line Cinema, is old news.
It’s been about 4 years since this remake/revival/reimagining/re-whatever you want to call it, was first announced.
Back in early 2010, New Line Cinema was said to be looking for new recruits to relaunch the Police Academy franchise movie, with original producer Paul Maslansky back for the encore, which had no writer or director attached at the time.
Fast-forward to 2012, when a new announcement revealed that New Line Cinema had hired Scott Zabielski to direct the remake.
Who’s Scott Zabielski? Well, one thing he will be doing is making his feature directorial debut with this project, after directing episodes of hit Comedy Central show Tosh.0. He once served as a reserve police officer in West Hollywood, so he has some experience with a real-life police academy.
Word on the street today is that Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele (of Key & Peele fame) are now attached to the project, to produce and likely star as well.
I’d say that this is actually right up their alley, if it turns out to be true.
The original Police Academy movie spawned 6 sequels from Warner Bros. All told, the franchise took in about $240 million worldwide and inspired a pair of TV series.
But this isn’t supposed to be another sequel, but instead, a brand new take on the low-brow comedy.
The series, released in the 80s and early 90s, actually had 3 African American characters in the starring ensemble cast – Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, and Marion Ramsey.
We can only assume that the relaunch will feature a similar group of misfit recruits.
