Disney+’s latest venture is a small screen adaptation of an iconic teen movie, now confirmed to be in pilot production.
Variety has shared exciting details that The Mindy Project’s Alina Mankin is on board as writer and executive producer for a series based on Holes, and Liz Phang, known for her Primetime Emmy nomination, will helm the series as showrunner while also executive producing the much-anticipated remake.
The original 2003 film’s production company, Walden Media, is once again involved in bringing this project to life, following several attempts to launch a series rendition.
Per the official statement, the series will offer a fresh take on Louis Sachar’s acclaimed 1998 book: “In this reimagining of the beloved 1998 book from Louis Sachar, a teenage girl is sent to a detention camp where the ruthless Warden forces the campers to dig holes for a mysterious purpose.”
This new endeavour follows in the footsteps of the celebrated film adaptation of Sachar’s novel a film that resonated with audiences featuring stars including Shia LaBeouf, Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight, Patricia Arquette, Tim Blake Nelson, and Eartha Kitt.
Upon its release, the film was not only a financial success, achieving $71.4 million at the box office against a $17 million budget, but it also earned critical acclaim for its nostalgic feel and adherence to the source material, reports the Express.
Transforming the story for contemporary audiences, the series will exchange the male lead of Stanley Yelnats, originally played by Shia LaBeouf, for a female protagonist.
Following the announcement, Reddit has been abuzz with opinions from fans of the original film. One fan stated: “Actually a pretty good idea. The movie was fine but you always lose something cramming a book into 90 minutes.”
While another chimed in saying: “Now this is treasure worth digging for, hope they do justice to such an iconic story.”
A third expressed sheer enthusiasm: “Oh wow, this film is my absolute favorite. I think one of the rarer occasions where the movie is better than the book. Hopefully, they do it justice.”
Yet, there were those who weren’t impressed, as one sceptically remarked: “The movie is damn near a perfect adaptation of this book. There is zero reason to do this.”
Another concurred, adding their voice against the trend: “Another very unnecessary reboot. The movie is a near perfect adaptation of the book.”
The film Holes is available to stream now on Disney+ while a release date is yet to be announced for the series