Back in April, directorKevin Smith’s episode ofThe Flashaired, which was highly praised by both fans and critics alike. Last month, the filmmaker revealed on his Hollywood Babble-On podcast that this episode suddenly started leading to a lot more opportunities on the small screen, with MGM reaching out to him to gauge his interest in making a TV series based on the 1984cult classicfilmThe Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. The director said that he would start pitching his take for aBuckaroo BanzaiTV series to networks this month, and now it seems the show has found a home.
The original movie followed the title character, played byPeter Weller, an adventurer/surgeon/rock star, who takes on evil alien invaders from the 8th dimension alongside his band of men, the Hong Kong Cavaliers. The movie also starredJohn Lithgow,Ellen Barkin,Jeff GoldblumandChristopher Lloyd. While it only made $6.2 million during its theatrical run, it became a cult classic in the years that followed. During an interview with Philadelphia radio station WMMR,Kevin Smithteased that they have soldBuckaroo Banzaias a TV series, but he wouldn’t reveal where it’s heading yet since the deal is still in the works. Here’s what he had to say below.
“I went and directed an episode ofThe Flashthis past season. I loved doing it. I get to go back in August and I get to do another one. When I went up there, that was a big game-changer for my career. Apparently, that was some of the best work I had done in a long time, not just the Internet, but the press, in terms of directing. I felt at home, in the medium. Because I did the episode ofThe Flash, MGM reached out aboutBuckaroo Banzai, and suddenly that came together. We went out and pitched yesterday, and found a home for it. I can’t say who it is, because the deal isn’t final, but yesterday, we soldBuckaroo Banzaias a TV series.”
Kevin Smithteased last month that the first season of hisBuckaroo Banzaiseries would essentially be a re-telling of the original movie, while the second season would give fans “the sequel we’ve all been waiting for,” which would featureBuckaroo Banzaisquaring off against the World Crime League. It isn’t clear at this time ifKevin Smithhas gone ahead and written a full pilot script, or if he will direct the pilot as well.
The director also revealed in his interview with Philadelphia radio station that he is turning his movie sequel idea forMallrats 2into a 10-episode TV series. When the project was moving forward as a movie, the director had secured almost the entire original cast, with the exception ofBen Affleck, but it isn’t known if they will all be returning for a 10-episode TV series. Stay tuned for more on bothBuckaroo BanzaiandMallratsTV shows coming fromKevin Smith.
