Amazon is joining forces with James Gunn on the script-to-series original Starsky & Hutch. The new series will be a continuation of the original 1970s show.
The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television Studios and will be a character-driven one-hour procedural that deconstructs the buddy cop genre in the same way that James Gunn has done with the sci-fi genre with Guardians Of The Galaxy.
The original Starsky & Hutch television series was created by William Blinn and produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions and aired on ABC from 1975 to 1979. The show centered on two detectives traversing the streets of the fictional Bay City, California in a two-door Ford Gran Torino.
This is the first foray into television by James Gunn and his production company Troll Court Entertainment. He will serve as executive producer alongside writing partners Brian Gunn and Mark Gunn, and Original Film’s Neal Moritz and Pavun Shetty. Brian and Mark Gunn, will write the series based on an idea by James Gunn.
James Gunn, whose credits included mostly fan favourite indie films prior to writing and directing Guardians Of The Galaxy, is responsible for turning the Marvel property into one of the most beloved franchises in the Marvel universe. The franchise has grossed more than $1.6bn worldwide
Joe Lewis, head of comedy, drama and VR at Amazon Studios, said: “Chekhov said if you have a gun in the room, it’s going to go off. We can’t wait to see what three Gunns do with Starsky & Hutch.”
Jason Clodfelter, co-president of Sony Pictures Television Studios, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Amazon on this unique approach to a character driven procedural. The Gunns completely surpassed our expectations while paying respect to the original.”
James Gunn commented: “When I was a kid, Starsky & Hutch was the first ‘adult’ show I ever saw, and I fell in love. It instilled in me a lifelong love of gritty street shows, of killer 70s threads, and muscle cars. So when Neal Mortiz asked me if I wanted to be a part of an all-new Starsky & Hutch on TV, I was instantly intrigued.”
“I teamed up with the two writers I trusted most in the world to work with us, my brother Brian Gunn and my cousin Mark Gunn and together we came up with a show that I’m really proud of. At Amazon I believed we would have the most freedom to create something that is different, challenges the audience, and that strays outside the parameters of genre from time to time.”
Neal Moritz added: “The chance to work with one of my favourite directors on one of my favourite properties seems too good to be true. I’m so excited to make this show at Amazon with James, Mark and Brian.”
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