The 1999 cult classic filmJawbreakeris coming to the small screen, with E! developing aTV series adaptationalongside Sony Pictures Television.Darren Stein, who wrote and directed the original film, is returning to co-write the pilot script withGeorge Northy(G.B.F.), with both writers serving as executive producers. It isn’t known ifDarren Steinwill also direct the pilot episode, if E! issues a pilot order.
Deadlinebroke the news about this series being put into development, revealing that the story will be set inBeverly Hills, just like the original movie. The comedy drama will follow a new clique of friends, whose world is turned upside down when an accidental killing happens during a bachelorette party. This sets in motion a chain of events as these women go to great lengths to protect this deadly secret.
The original movie followed a clique of Beverly Hills high school girls, so it seems that this new group of friends will be a bit older, eschewing the high school setting. Although that has not been confirmed. It isn’t known if any of the main stars of the original movie, such asRose McGowan,Rebecca GayheartorJulie Benz, will return as different characters in this series. The supporting cast of the originalJawbreakermovie also includedJudy Greerin just her third film role,Tatyana Ali,Jeff Conaway,P.J. Soles,Marilyn Manson,Carol KaneandPam Grier.
Jawbreakeris just the latestcult classicmovie to find new life on the small screen. CBS debuted its TV adaptation ofTraining Daylast week, with ABC airing the short-livedUncle Bucklast summer. NBC is also bringing theLiam Neesonaction movie franchiseTakento the small screen, debuting February 27. A TV adaptation of a hit movie is never a sure thing, though, which the producers ofBeverly Hills Copfound out in 2013, when CBS didn’t issue a series order for the pilot episode, which brought backEddie Murphyas Axel Foley.
WhileJawbreakerwasn’t a huge box office hit, earning just $3.1 million from a $3.5 million budget, it earned cult status rather quickly, and helped launch the career of rising starsRose McGowan,Rebecca GayheartandJulie Benz.Darren Steinalso directed the 2013 comedyG.B.F., which markedGeorge Northy’s screenwriting debut.Darren Steinalso has a half-hour comedy project set up at HBO, and he is also writing the fourth installment of Lifetime’sFlowers in the Atticfranchise for Lifetime, along with the network’sSpice Girlsbiopic.George Northyhas also written for MTV’sFaking It.
