As the CBS All Access streaming service prepares to rebrand itself as Paramount + next year, the Viacom-owned studio is dipping into its vault for a new TV remake.
The streaming service is developing a new TV series remake of the 1983 box office smash hit Flashdance, according to a new report from The Hollywood Reporter.
Lynda Obst, an associate producer on the original movie, will executive produce, with Tracy McMillan (Good Girls Revolt, Runaways) writing the pilot script.
Remake: The streaming service is developing a new TV series remake of the 1983 box office smash hit Flashdance, according to a new report from The Hollywood Reporter
The original movie marked the breakthrough debut for Jennifer Beals, who starred as Alex Owens, a young Pittsburgh woman who works as both a welder and an exotic dancer, but has dreams of going to ballet school.
The film, directed by Adrian Lyne from a script by Joe Eszterhas and Thomas Hedley Jr. was a surprise hit at the box office, earning $92.9 million domestic and more than $200 million worldwide.
It was the third-highest grossing movie of the year domestically, behind Tootsie ($146.2 million) and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi ($247.3 million).
Breakthrough: The original movie marked the breakthrough debut for Jennifer Beals, who starred as Alex Owens, a young Pittsburgh woman who works as both a welder and an exotic dancer, but has dreams of going to ballet school
The new series will follow, ‘a young black woman with ballet dreams and a strip club reality who struggles to find her place in the world while navigating romance, money, art, friendship and how to love herself,’ according to the report.
Angela Robinson (Professor Marston and the Wonder Women) is directing the pilot episode and serving as an executive producer on the series.
The Flashdance series is just the latest project to come from the Paramount vault to be re-imagined as a TV project for the streaming service.
New show: The new series will follow, ‘a young black woman with ballet dreams and a strip club reality who struggles to find her place in the world while navigating romance, money, art, friendship and how to love herself,’ according to the report
Paramount + is also developing a prequel to the hit musical Grease, along with a behind-the-scenes scripted show that explores the making of The Godfather.
There will also be a revival of Mara Brock Akil’s BET series The Game, along with the new Twilight Zone series, Star Trek: Discovery and Picard.
The streaming service will change from its current CBS All Access to Paramount + in early 2021, which will feature original content from CBS plus MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Network and Nickelodeon.
New streamer: Paramount + is also developing a prequel to the hit musical Grease, along with a behind-the-scenes scripted show that explores the making of The Godfather
Writer McMillan had previously written for shows such as Journeyman, Life on Mars, United States of Tara, Mad Men, Chase, Necessary Roughness and Satisfaction.
Robinson has previously directed feature films such as D.E.B.S. and Herbie Fully Loaded, along with episodes of TV shows such as The L Word and Gigantic.
Obst made her producing debut on Flashdance and would go on to produce hits such as Adventures in Babysitting, Sleepless in Seattle, Contact and Interstellar.
Original producer: Obst made her producing debut on Flashdance and would go on to produce hits such as Adventures in Babysitting, Sleepless in Seattle, Contact and Interstellar