“The legend lives!”
Everyone’s favorite ’90s show returns for a TV movie reboot this fall, transforming the set of Nickelodeon’s Legends of the Hidden Temple game show into a full-fledged world where Olmec, The Steps of Knowledge, and an assortment of oddly colored animals actually exist.
Although the action-adventure game show for kids only ran (originally) from 1993 to 1995 for 120 episodes, it has since established a bit of a cult following, allowing the network to green-light the movie. Banking on its nostalgia factor, Nickelodeon will hope to draw millennials back to the network to pick up viewers.
Although Nickelodeon initially announced the movie in March 2016, the network launched the movie’s trailer at San Diego Comic-Con this weekend. Anchored by Fall Out Boy’s Centuries, the preview introduces the story of three siblings who ditch a cheesy jungle tour to explore the “Hidden Temple,” where Olmec, a talking stone head who knows the secrets of the temple, resides. The siblings must then complete Olmec’s challenges to escape the temple alive, reminiscent of the original game show’s numerous challenges.
The movie stars Isabela Moner, Colin Critchley, and Jet Jurgensmeyer as the three siblings, but most notably features original show host Kirk Fogg as himself, acting as the jungle tour guide. Olmec’s original voice will also return, played by Dee Bradley Baker. Joe Menendez directed the film and Jonny Umansky, Zach Hyatt, and Alex J. Reid are on board as writers.
Nickelodeon simultaneously launched a Legends of the Hidden Temple VR experience at Comic-Con, in which users can explore the temple and complete challenges in order to escape, all while interacting with host Kirk Fogg and Olmec himself.
Nickelodeon Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing Jamie Dictenberg told CNET that creating the 360-degree video originated as an extra way to utilize the set they made for the movie.
“For us it’s just about making sure that new audiences are getting introduced to something they might not know and then jazzing you guys with one more temple run,” Dictenberg said.
