The creators of Cobra Kai are set to bring Knight Rider to the big screen. Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald are in early talks to write and potentially direct a new movie based on the classic 1980s action drama about Michael Knight and his talking car, KITT.
“I suggest you fasten your seatbelts, everyone. Knight Rider is coming!” confirmed Hurwitz on Instagram. “So excited to dig into another old ‘80s favorite! Grateful to be teaming up with the incredible teams at 87 North and Spyglass! And to be reuniting with our old friends at Universal Pictures!”
Knight Rider on the Big Screen
The Knight Rider project is being developed at Universal with producers Kelly McCormick and David Leitch of 87North, known for The Fall Guy. The Cobra Kai team will produce through their Counterbalance Entertainment banner, joining Gary Barber and Chris Stone from Spyglass.
Airing on NBC from 1982 to 1986, Knight Rider became a defining show of the decade. Created by Glen A. Larson, it featured David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight, an agent for the Foundation for Law and Government (FLAG). His partner was KITT, an artificially intelligent and nearly indestructible Trans Am. Together, they went after criminals who operated above the law. KITT could talk, and Knight communicated by talking through his watch.
Previous Attempts and New Direction
Universal has tried for years to adapt Knight Rider for theaters. A previous script came from Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, but that version stalled. The new take from the Cobra Kai creators is being kept under wraps (via THR), but given their track record, fans can expect an inventive spin that doesn’t frown upon the original series but expands upon it.
From Karate Kid to Knight Rider
Hurwitz, Schlossberg, and Heald gained attention with the Harold & Kumar films and American Reunion before creating Cobra Kai, a continuation of The Karate Kid story. The series became a hit for Netflix, balancing legacy characters with new faces and earning critical acclaim, including an Emmy nomination.
With Cobra Kai recently wrapping its sixth and final season, the trio has begun lining up new projects. Alongside Knight Rider, they are also working on a new Harold & Kumar installment and have developed a Ferris Bueller’s Day Off spinoff for Paramount.
They also had nothing to do with the recent movie that flopped, starring Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan.
