Were you starting to feel like one David Lowery centered news story wasn’t enough to get you through the day? You’re in luck then, as he’s made headlines again today. Deadline has revealed that Lowery is working on a pilot based off Joe Dante’s 1985 film Explorers. Better yet, he’s not the only person who has signed onto the project. It: Chapter one and creative force behind True Detective season one, Cary Fukunaga, will be lending his talents to the project.
Both Lowery and Fukunaga will co-write the script for the pilot, as well as the show bible. The latter is basically a map to how they want the show to unfold. Word is, one of the two will take on the task of directing the pilot too. Though no indication is given as to which that may be.
Here’s a quick synopsis for the film, in case you haven’t seen it:
“A boy obsessed with 50s sci-fi movies about aliens has a recurring dream about a blueprint of some kind, which he draws for his inventor friend. With the help of a third kid, they follow it and build themselves a spaceship.”
Explorers is ripe for adaptation, mostly because the 3rd act is a mess. Dante revealed after release that he was rushed by the studio to stop editing the film, to make a summer release. Plus lands perfectly at a time where anyone and everyone is mining every avenue of 80’s nostalgia. The original film is also mostly remembered for starring a young Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix.
This is another case this week where a long dormant project, suddenly springs to life again. Back in 2014 The Hollywood Reporter actually ran a piece about a theatrical remake. Though it looks like no one attached to that variation will be involved here. Something tells me Lowery and Fukunaga are more likely to stick. How they fit it into their schedules, is the bigger question. Lowery, as noted previously, is adapting Green Knight for A24 and has Peter Pan somewhere on his horizon. Meanwhile, Fukunaga is gearing up for the arduous task of directing whatever Bond 25 ends up being. That doesn’t leave a ton of wiggle room.
The project would help bolster Paramount Television’s somewhat lackluster lineup of content. Heathers has been panned and makes the news for the wrong reasons.The Kevin Costner led Yellowstone also hasn’t exactly found an audience. A nostalgia filled show, from two imaginative and highly sought after creative forces is a good gamble to make. As soon as we know more about the Explorers TV show, we’ll update you right away.
