David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight and KITT in Knight Rider {image via NBC}

Knight Rider was one of the most popular shows of the Eighties. Now Aquaman director James Wan wants to remake the story of a lone hero and his talking car for a new generation.

From 1982 to 1986, ex-police officer Michael Long, (played by David Hasselhoff) resurrected as Michael Knight, fought crime for the Foundation for Law and Government, with the help of KITT, a souped up Pontiac Firebird Trans Am equipped with an Artificial Intelligence. The show inspired four sequels from 1991 to 2009: Knight Rider 2000 in 1991, Knight Rider 2010 in 1994, Team Knight Rider in 1997, and the Knight Rider reboot sequel in 2008, as well as several videogames.

Variety reported Spyglass Media Group will develop a feature film based on the original ’80s TV show. Janes Wan, the director of Aquaman, (although he is best known for horror: Insidious, Saw, Dead Silence,) will be producing the new Knight Rider movie. T, J. Fixman, best known for writing and producing Ratchet & Clank, will be writing the script.

Spyglass Media has not yet announced who will be starring in the new movie, although no one will be surprised if actor/singer Hasselhoff is asked to at least cameo in the movie, or possibly play Devon Miles, the FLAG executive originally played by Edward Mulhare (the ghost in the TV adaptation of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Byrne-White in Megaforce) or sing the movie’s theme song.

The Eighties were the era of the buddies comedy, when mismatched buddies became best friends and generally solved mysteries together (Tenspeed and Brownshoe, Beverley Hills Cop, Miami Vice, Enemy Mine). At the time, a boy and his car seemed like another in that category. 2020 was the year everything went to Perdition. Perhaps we need 2021 to be the year we’re reminded one person “can make a difference”.

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Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children's book "R is for Renaissance Faire", as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in "Alternative Truths", "Swords and Sorceress #30", Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, "Cat Tails" "Under Western Stars", and "Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid". Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio's web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions,  Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.