It’s taken Hollywood this long to get around to making a movie based on the classic TV series MacGyver. While CBS and James Wan are planning a remake of the show, Lionsgate is moving forward with plans to make a movie.
The news about the movie comes from Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer, and he also reveals that the movie will be produced by series creator Lee David Zlotoff and Neal Moritz, who is the producer of the Fast and Furious franchise.
The “MacGyver” reboot has landed a formal pilot order at CBS. Written by Paul Downs Colaizzo, original exec producer Henry Winkler is attached to the new potential series as an EP, along with Michael Clear. James Wan (“Saw” franchise, “Furious 7”) is attached to direct the pilot and will also serve as an exec producer. CBS Television Studios will produce. First put into development this past October, “MacGyver” was said to be a high priority for the network, which is also rebooting Nancy Drew with a younger, diverse twist this pilot season. Revivals are becoming a trend for CBS, as the net also greenlit a pilot for a reimagining of the film “Training Day.”
MacGyver aired on ABC from 1985 to 1992 and it starred Richard Dean Anderson as secret agent Angus MacGyver. He worked for the Department of External Services and one of his main talents was his ability to solve complex problems in intense situations with ordinary items that he randomly had access to.
What made MacGyver so popular in the 80’s was that he was able to “MacGyver” his way out of situation pre-Information Age and the advent of the internet. In the 21st century, anyone with a mobile device and an internet connection can look up the tools and instructions they need to handle any situation. So if either reboot takes place in the modern-day, (i.e.: the 2010’s), it will be unimpressive. Even “Burn Notice” received criticisms for being a “MacGyver-lite” set in the 21st century. The other route is for the reboots being a prequel – “The Early Years” – prior to his days working for the DES. That would place our timeline somewhere in the late 70’s / early 80’s. Personally, I love that aesthetic, but it is a hard sell for TV nowadays. The U.S. version of “Life on Mars” failed, and “The Goldbergs” are not getting great ratings.