Friday Night Lights is getting a new movie reboot and it needs to be as phenomenal

Pineapple Express director is in negotiation with Universal Pictures for the reboot of the cult-favorite movie
Billy Bob Thornton (Source: Getty Images)
Billy Bob Thornton (Source: Getty Images)

Cult-favorite Friday Night Lights has come a long way. From a 2004 film to a hit TV series in 2006, the show is again getting a movie makeover.

According to Deadline, director David Gordon Green is negotiating terms with Universal Pictures to direct the project that has already taken three forms.

The 2004 film starring Billy Bob Thornton as coach of the Permian High Panthers, was based on Buzz Bissinger's book of the same name. The movie captured the essence of small-town America’s obsession with high school football and Friday nights. 

The story is centered in Texas where football obsession is crazy and unhealthy. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost. The small town's dormant social problems flare up and the only chance to win the game for honor and self-respect rests in the inspiring abilities of new coach Gary Gaines.

Capturing all the glory and heartbreaks, the film was made into a long-running TV series that launched the career of stars including Michael B. Jordan, Taylor Kitsch, Connie Britton and Jesse Plemons. The series ran till 2011 and bagged a handful of awards including an Emmy. The NBC hit series then stretched from silver screen to live theatres.

Proving that Americans will never get enough of football shows, Friday Light Nights managed to crossover into musical territory with a stage version of the TV show in 2015. Scott Porter, who played paralyzed former quarterback Jason Street, starred as Coach Taylor in the musical.

Fans are eagerly awaiting the reboot of the series and are looking forward to an impressive new cast. The movie will follow similar plot and format like its first film. Green, the director of 'Pineapple Express' will be backed by the original producer of the 2004 film, Brian Grazer. It has been further reported that Hacksaw Ridge scribe, Robert Schenkkan, penned the new installment. The responsibility is immense for the new reboot given that the past productions of Friday Night Lights have been nothing but phenomenal.

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