‘Cobra Kai’ Creators Eye Big Screen Debut with ‘Knight Rider’ Movie

Knight Rider creators Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald, known for their Netflix success Cobra Kai, are reportedly in talks to bring the 1980s action drama revolving around a computerized talking car to the cinema screen. They are expected to write the screenplay and it has been suggested that Hurwitz and Schlossberg may direct.

– The creators of Netflix’s Cobra Kai series are in early discussions to bring the 1980s action drama Knight Rider to the big screen. Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald may potentially pen the screenplay and direct, also producing through Counterbalance Entertainment.
– The original show aired from 1982-1986 on NBC, featuring David Hasselhoff as a special detective partnered with KITT, an artificially intelligent and indestructible Trans Am.
– There is already a feature version in development, and though details about this new take are currently under wraps, the Cobra Kai creators are expected to provide a fresh twist.

The team behind Netflix’s global hit, Cobra Kai; Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald, are set to venture into new territory with plans to bring the action-packed 1980s drama, Knight Rider to the big screen. The television series predated a car-computer interface, featuring an intelligent talking car.

Preliminary discussions are ongoing about the trio authoring the screenplay, with Hurwitz and Schlossberg likely to take on the directorial reins too. The group also plans to undertake the project’s production through their firm, Counterbalance Entertainment. They are to co-produce with Kelly McCormick and David Leitch of 87North, which is in partnership with Universal, and Gary Barber and Chris Stone from Spyglass.

Defined by an outrageous plot, a handsome protagonist, and an unforgettable synth theme, Knight Rider was a defining television show of the ’80s. Created by famed TV producer Glen A. Larson and aired on NBC from 1982 to 1986, the show saw David Hasselhoff master the role of Michael Knight. His character – a detective turned agent for the Foundation for Law and Government – was paired with a technology-enabled indestructible Trans Am named KITT to face down law-evading criminals.

There have been prior efforts to reimagine the show into a feature film, including a script by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider. Details of the new interpretation are being closely guarded, but the Cobra Kai creators are known for their unexpected approaches.

The duo of Hurwitz and Schlossberg first rose to prominence with the eccentric Harold & Kumar films and subsequently wrote and directed the Universal’s American Pie sequel, American Reunion. They later aligned with Heald to conceptualize, manage, and co-produce the Cobra Kai series. The spin-off of Karate Kid meshed vintage characters with new faces, adding a unique comedic touch to an action drama that garnered acclaim across generations. Its third season got nominated for an Emmy in the outstanding comedy series category.

Post the final season of Cobra Kai on Netflix, the team has been prospecting for new challenges. One such venture includes another installment of Harold & Kumar for Lionsgate/Mandate Pictures. The group is known for their innovative takes on classic stories, including a spinoff of the ’80s cult classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off for Paramount.