‘Dig it oh, oh, oh, dig it…’ HOLES Is Making a Comeback
By Movieguide® Contributor
Disney+ has been ordered to pilot a new HOLES TV series, appropriate for our booming age of spin-offs, sequels and reboots.
“Alina Mankin serves as writer and executive producer, while Liz Phang will serve as showrunner and executive producer [in the show],” Variety reported Jan. 7. “Drew Goddard will executive produce via Goddard Textiles along with Sarah Esberg. Walden Media, which produced the film, is also producing the pilot and has been attempting to get a series version of the book off the ground for some time, according to sources. Mike Medavoy will executive produce with rights holder Shamrock executive producing. Andrea Massaro of Goddard Textiles is a co-executive producer. 20th Television, where Goddard is based, is the studio.”
Disney adapted Louis Sachar’s book of the same name into a movie with Shia LeBouf in 2003. It made $71 million globally.
Movieguide® gave the original movie a -1 rating. While it has some very positive messages, it contains occult elements and a few other things that may concern families.
READ MORE: HOLES REVIEW
The logline for the series reads, “In this reimagining of the beloved 1998 book from Louis Sachar, a teenage girl is sent to a detention camp where the ruthless Warden forces the campers to dig holes for a mysterious purpose.”
“Holes,” published in 1998, sold millions of copies and won the National Book Award and Newbery Medal.
“Sachar has published dozens of other books as well, including the popular ‘Wayside School’ series and the ‘Marvin Redpost’ books,” Variety reported. “He also wrote the book ‘Stanley Yelnats’ Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake’ ahead of the film version’s release and the spinoff book ‘Small Steps,’ which tells the story of ‘Holes’ character Theodore ‘Armpit’ Johnson.”
Executive producer Drew Goddard said, “My mom’s been a schoolteacher for her whole life and, as such, she’s served as a de facto book scout for Goddard Textiles. She always knows what ‘the kids’ are into long before everyone else does. ‘Holes’ was the first book she suggested to me — this was back in the late ‘90s — and she was positive it was going to be a phenomenon. It feels good to bring it full circle for Mrs. Goddard and her sixth grade class.”
Any active Disney+ users know that the platform has been keen on reboots and spin-offs for a few years now.
“In 2022, the streamer released a new version of CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, starring Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff, a remake of another 2003 film that originally featured Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt,” Movie Web reported. “Meanwhile, on the TV side of things, Disney+ rebooted the beloved 2007 children’s show that starred Selena Gomez, WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE, late last year. WIZARDS BEYOND WAVERLY PLACE debuted in October, with much of the original cast making special appearances.”
Goddard said Mankin and Phang have done well incorporating Sachar’s “spirit” in the show.
“To say much more about what they have in store would spoil all the fun,” Goddard said.
RadioTimes believes if Disney remembers “what made the original work so well,” the show will be a hit.
It’s “silly and very funny, which must have led to so many of us revisiting it time and time again, whether it’s a single line (‘I’m TIRED of this, Grandpa!’), character details (the name Stanley Yelnats) or even full plot points,” Radio Times wrote.
“Every part of the film is also full of heart. From the Kate and Sam tale to Stanley and Hector’s friendship, it’s a tale of morality and justice that never seems too sugary sweet or cringey and it never, ever talked down to its young audience.”
READ MORE: DISNEY’S 2024 FAMILY MOVIES RULED AT THE BOX OFFICE
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