It’s Texas forever — again.
Universal Television is in early development on a new version of Friday Night Lights, its critically acclaimed drama revolving around a Texas high school football team. The original series ran for five seasons, from 2006-11, on NBC and DirecTV’s 101 Network.
Two of thee original show’s executive producers — showrunner Jason Katims and Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment — are involved in the new version. Sources say the reboot would focus on new characters rather than returning to Kyle Chandler- and Connie Britton-led cast of the original.
Universal TV declined comment.
Friday Night Lights is inspired by a 1990 nonfiction book by H.G. “Buzz” Bissinger about the football team at Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. Pete Berg directed and co-wrote a 2004 feature film adaptation of the book and created and executive produced the show. The series is set in the fictional town of Dillon, Texas, and follows the lives of the coach, Eric Taylor (Chandler), and players of the Dillon Panthers football team, along with Coach Taylor’s family (Britton played Tami Taylor, Eric’s wife, and Aimee Teegarden played their daughter Julie) and other students.
The show was never a hit, but it had a cult following and widespread critical acclaim for most of its run. FNL won three Emmys, including best actor in a drama for Chandler and best writing for a drama (Katims) in its final season. The series also helped launch the careers of several members of its younger cast, including Jesse Plemons, Taylor Kitsch, Zach Gilford, Minka Kelly, Gaius Charles, Adrianne Palicki and Michael B. Jordan.
Katims and Grazer are executive producing the new version along with Kristen Zolner of Imagine.
Puck first reported the news.
Source: Hollywoodreporter
