#JonnyQuest: A Live-Action Adaptation In The Works

Ooh, it looks like “Jem and the Holograms” won’t be the only classic animated TV series that is going to be adapted into a live-action feature film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Quest family and their bodyguard from the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon, “Jonny Quest”, will be brought back to life as Warner Bros. is planning to adapt the series into a live-action feature film.

Created and designed by comic book artist Doug Wildey, “Jonny Quest” is an American animated sci-fi adventure TV series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions for Screen Gems. The 1964 ABC primetime cartoon is about Quest, a boy who travels around the world with his family (his father Dr. Benton Quest, his adoptive brother Hadji Singh, their bodyguard Roger “Race” Bannon, and their pet dog Bandit), investigating mysterious phenomena they encounter along the way.

Despite its high ratings, the show lasted for only one season as it was too expensive to produce. After spending 2 decades in reruns, new episodes were produced in syndication in 1986 as part of “The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera” Season 2.

A comic book series, 2 telefilms, 3 computer games, and a more modern revival series, “The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest”, were later produced in the 1990s.

After Ted Turner bought the Hanna-Barbera library in the early 1990s, directing duo Richard Donner and Lauren Shuler Donner tried to launch a live-action adaptation. Another adaptation was also close to a green light in 2010, with “50 First Dates” director Peter Segal circling to direct. At that time, Zac Efron was attached to play the titled role, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson playing Race Bannon, Jonny’s bodyguard.

Dan Lin then began developing a new version of the adaptation in 2007, with Dan Mazeau penning the script. After spending several years in “developing hell”, the project is being picked up by Warner Bros., with “Sin City” director Robert Rodriguez set to helm. Rodriguez will rewrite the script with “Pirates of the Caribbean” screenwriter Terry Rossio.

No further information regarding the film has been announced, but it is reported that Lin will produce it alongside Adrian Askarieh. Andy Fischel and Nik Mavinkurve will oversee for the studio.

Like many other TV-to-film adaptations, the live-action adaptation of “Jonny Quest” begs the question: “Should it stay true to the original or receive a fresh adaptation?”

Share your thoughts in the comments box below.

(Sources: The Verge, THR)

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