NBC is looking to revive one of the most successful series in TV history – Murder, She Wrote — with a brand new take from writer Alexandra Cunningham and producer David Janollari that has Oscar winner Octavia Spencer succeeding Angela Lansbury in the lead role of an astute amateur detective. The new hourlong project, which has received a put pilot commitment, is a re-imagining of the long-running CBS series. Described as a light, contemporary procedural in the vein of Bones or Fargo, it follows a hospital administrator and amateur sleuth (Spencer) who self-publishes her first mystery novel. Set in a day where sensational headlines inundate the news, this woman’s avid fascination with true crime leads her to become an active participant in the investigations. Former Desperate Housewives executive producer Cunningham is writing and will executive produce with Janollari. Universal TV, whose namesake predecessor produced the original series, is producing with studio-based David Janollari Entertainment.
Source: deadline
Source: deadline
Ugh. I hated the show (although I loved Angela Lansbury) so much. No thanks to a reboot.
ReplyDeleteEnough with the reboots, can't anyone come up with an original series that hasn't been done before. I don't want to see shows being remade, I want to see new shows.. This remake will just flop like the rest of them, it's a bad idea to reboot this show.
ReplyDeletePersonally, this is a bad idea I would rather watch the original than this remake..
Weird show to reboot but have to say Octavia Spencer being involved does intrigue me.
ReplyDeleteI was going to post a comment similar to yours but as you've said it all so well already, I'll just agree completely with what you have written. :)
ReplyDeleteGuess NBC didn't learn anything from Ironside.
ReplyDeleteNope!
ReplyDeleteWatched the original as reruns when i got home from school it was a decent show but i think rebooting is a bad choice. Personally I don't like the actress they are casting and won't watch the reboot if it makes it to air.
ReplyDeleteIronside was an original show, not a remake. Anyways, NBC should realize that this remake will end up getting cancelled. I can't imagine this remake really being successful
ReplyDeletei loved the show , but it wont be the same without angela lansbury so a reboot is a bad idea
ReplyDeleteIf I'm not mistaken the original does exist . It had Raymond Burr as Ironside. I remember watching it myself.
ReplyDeleteIronside was a reboot of the original show aired on NBC from 1967 to 1975.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironside_%28TV_series%29
Ugh, I'm torn!! I LOVE Murder, She Wrote!! I've seen all 12 seasons at least 8 times, before Netflix took it down. I'm just not sure how this will go. I also love Octavia as an actress as well but I don' know if the casting will work. I have to see if before I judge as I do with all shows I'm not sure about. If they do not rely to heavily on what made MSW successful, then the reboot might work.
ReplyDeleteSimply put I'm going to watch it and give it a chance.
It's official, Hollywood is out of ideas. While I've never seen the original show, you don't mess with classics, it should be an unwritten rule. What's next rebooting the classic MASH (better not; I'll cut someone if they do) or I Dream of Jeannie or Seinfeld?
ReplyDeleteNNooooooo. Sorry.Like Wonder Woman. Lynda Carter will always be WW, where Angela Lansbury will also be Jessica Fletcher.
ReplyDeleteNO. I'm sorry, just no.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that, I think NBC really needs to reconsider airing this new remake. If they want their shows to be sucessfull they should not all remakes to air on their network. This one will just get cancelled.
ReplyDeleteThis reboot won't work, it's stupid to even remake this show. the original was a classic, this one will not have good writing or be as good as the original. The casting won't work, sorry but remakes tend to flop big time. This one will, I'm not watching it. NBC should not even choose to air it, knowing it will only get cancelled. It's not going to big or classic like the original one.
ReplyDeleteI think the show was fine for it's time, but I can't see it being very successful now...I mean they would seriously have to spin it!
ReplyDeleteThe idea of an amateur sleuth or a mystery writer becoming a detective has been around forever, long before Murder She Wrote honestly.
ReplyDeleteShows like Murder She Wrote, Matlock, Diagnosis Murder were fairly generic and bland shows that worked because of the strong lead actor that had an established career. They were light fair, but charming and found an audience..
I think the format works, especially with an established, more mature actress. The show will undoubtedly skew older, but if ABC is okay with that I think the show could have longevity if handled properly.
They will need to establish the new character as unique and separate from Jessica Fletcher. If more updated, younger shows like Castle and The Mentalist can work and succeed I do not see any reason why a new series based on Murder She Wrote cannot.
Okay so,any day now i expect we'll be hearing Banacek and McMillan & Wife will be rebooted...along with Giget and Hound Dog on the CW...
ReplyDeleteits not murder she wrote without Angela lansbury.
ReplyDeleteLol, how about Hart to Hart and Magnum too....
ReplyDeleteAw man, I loved them all even McCloud!! ;) but not Giget or hound doggie...lol...
ReplyDeleteSometimes 'Everything old is new again' isn't always new,its just old!
NBC just stop
ReplyDeleteI was honestly excited about the prospect of the Rockford Files reboot with Josh Holloway.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of remakes or shows that were unique in someway, but generic shows about private eye or an amateur slueth I can handle being remade more easily. If they are done well. Hawaii Five-O for instance. It worked (for a season and a half) because of the cast chemistry. Same with Body of Proof basically being a rip-off of Quincy MD.
I think the key is either to reboot the series in one of two ways.
- Either go a different direction from the original, but keep the same vague plot line like Elementary making Watson a woman.
- Or try to capture the spirit of the original with actors and roles that are the updated version of the original like Hawaii Five-O.
I like original content more, but remakes scan work I think if the showrunner and writers manage to capture the original magic of the original series or create their own magic.
WTF NBC? I never watched the original but ... really?
ReplyDeleteBad idea!
ReplyDeleteI got stuck in the bit according to which Fargo is supposed to be a light procedural. Really? Fargo being compared to Murder she Wrote in terms of it's lack of violence and "lightness"? I am very confused right now.
ReplyDelete"What's next rebooting the classic MASH (better not; I'll cut someone if they do) or I Dream of Jeannie or Seinfeld?"
ReplyDeleteNow you've scared me. They wouldn't dare TOUCH any of these shows.
I agree with you, the genre is OK, just using the original name is stupid. I think they would have been more successful creating a new Octavia Spencer show.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same problem with the new Remington Steele... just write new detective shows with new freaking names, people!