Remember that cult sci-fi comedy movie Galaxy Quest from 1999 that starred some pretty big names in Hollywood like Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub, and Alan Rickman? Well, it may be making a comeback of sorts, as Paramount Television is looking at turning it into a television show, reports Deadline.
The DreamWorks movie followed the adventure of several former actors from a Star Trek-esque TV show in the ‘70s, who somehow find themselves transported to a foreign galaxy to help save a nation of naive aliens who’ve crafted real-life weapons and spaceflight technology based on the farcical sci-fi show.
Robert Gordon, who wrote the feature, and was also involved in another high-profile sci-fi project, Men in Black II, is being tapped to adapt Galaxy Quest for the series format, while Dean Parisot (Monk, Curb Your Enthusiasm) will serve as director, and Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad) as producer. Together, the trio will also executive produce the project, alongside Gran Via Productions, Johnson’s company.
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Galaxy Quest was one of those movies that managed to grab a cult following from sci-fi fans. It also, by the way, was the feature film debut of Justin Long, now known for his roles in flicks like Dodgeball and Jeepers Creepers and, of course, as the cool Apple “Get a Mac” guy from those old commercials. In the original feature, Long played a fan that was obsessed with the long-since-cancelled TV show the actors worked on.
Also starring in the original movie were Sam Rockwell, Daryl Mitchell, and Enrico Colantoni.
There’s no word on whether any of the original cast members will reprise their roles, or make cameos, in the series. There’s also no word on when or where the show will air. Paramount is reportedly still shopping around for a home. And with television networks, as well as plenty of streaming platforms, always on the lookout for a story with nostalgia and a loyal fan base, chances are this series will see the light of day.
Several sources indicate that this won’t be the only former film Paramount is looking to resurrect – in what seems to be a trend in television these days, the studio is reportedly flipping through its vast catalog and looking at bringing back a number of other titles. Already in the works is a series based on the Jack Black vehicle, School of Rock, and a drama pilot for Fox based on the popular Tom Cruise/Steven Spielberg venture Minority Report.
