It looks like one of William Shatner’s other iconic characters is about to get a new movie reboot from Netflix for a new generation!
Mention Shatner to fans, and the first thing that pops into mind is obviously Captain Kirk. After that, it can be Shatner’s Emmy-winning turn as Denny Crane in Boston Legal or his various TV commercials, or just sending up his own persona.
Shatner did spend years after Star Trek trying to break free from the Kirk persona. Like many actors with a famous role, Shatner could often be typecast and it was tricky to find a non-Kirk role to succeed.
Shatner finally latched onto it in 1982 when T.J. Hooker premiered on ABC. Shatner played the title role of a detective who, following the murder of his partner, goes back to being a patrolman to tackle crime on the street. The show co-starred Adrian Zmed, a young Heather Locklear and future DS9 guest star James Darren.
The series tackled some very gritty storylines and issues of drugs, racism and more, not shying away from violence while giving Shatner a chance to show his dramatic chops. It had some great episodes, notably one where Leonard Nimoy played a former partner of Hooker who goes too far seeking justice. The show was a success, running five seasons, the last on CBS.
The show has faded a bit but is now set for a big revival, only with a twist different from what you may expect!
Per Deadline, Netflix is preparing a new movie based on T.J. Hooker to be written by Jarrad Paul and Andy Mogel, best known for the short-lived Fox legal comedy The Grinder. Rick Husky, the original series’ creator, will be an executive producer on the film.
It appears this new take will be more comedic in nature, likely the idea of Hooker still acting like he was in the 1980s, clashing with the modern times and attitudes about cops. It’s obvious the movie is being influenced by the success of the recent big-screen reboot of The Naked Gun starring Liam Neeson.
It’s uncertain yet if Shatner will appear in the new film, but it’s hard to imagine he’d skip the opportunity to make a cameo. It could even be the idea of a new Hooker who’s the son or grandson of the original played by Shatner. There’s excellent comic potential in how Hooker acts like he’s in the original series, ignoring anything from high-tech CSI work to how the public sees maverick cops differently. It can also mock some of the series’ conventions, such as Hooker’s habit of hanging onto the hoods of racing cars.
The film is still in the early stages, so no word on casting or such. Yet it could be fun to see one of Shatner’s other famed roles getting a movie revival, and perhaps with the man himself around for it.
TJ Hooker streaming on Tubi.
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