Cynthia Cidre, who wrote the sprawling Latino drama Cane, will pen an updated version of Dallas for the TNT Network.
A revival has been rumoured for some time, as well as a big screen version (at one stage to have potentially been directed by Australian Robert Luketic).
So far the cable network isn’t saying much on the likely storyline.
The initial idea was to have the series revolve around J.R. and Sue Ellen’s son John Ross and Bobby and Pam’s adopted son Christopher, but the studio and the network are waiting for Cidre’s take on the Ewing clan and want to read her script before making a decision.
Patrick Duffy, who played ‘Bobby’ in the original series, Larry Hagman (J.R.) and Linda Gray (Sue Ellen) were approached two months ago about potentially reprising their roles, but again the picture on their inclusion is vague, summed up merely as they “may or may not be part of” the new series.
Dallas already spawned its own offshoot in Knots Landing, but this time it sounds like an updating of the original. But trying to emulate JR Ewing would surely be a fatal mistake….
Maybe they should just put Pam Ewing in front of a shower again and have her dream up a whole spin-off of her own?
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Agree with Neon Kitten.
Gawd, that shower thing was possibly the definitive Jump The Shark moment, it even topped the origin. What were they thinking?
Is the entire industry run by people devoid of original ideas? I can’t believe they think remakes are a safe property, either – 90% of them have been huge failures.
How hard is it to come up with a new drama that doesn’t involve remaking, sequelising, or falling back on predictable clichés?
I’d hate to be a writer or producer with an original idea in Hollywood at the moment. You would starve trying to get interest in your show.
The two reunion movies they did – JR Returns and The War of the Ewings – weren’t too bad.
But I think it’s best to let things be – Dallas was a show of its time…..and I certainly hope Dynasty doesn’t get remade – who on earth could out class Joan Collins as Alexis??