Hit sports dramaFriday Night Lightsis due to have a remake on streaming platform Peacock, which beat out a bid from Netflix. The original show, developed by Peter Berg, wasinspired by the 1990 novelFriday Night Lights: A Town, a Team and a Dream, and ran for five seasons and 76 episodes on NBC and DirecTV between 2006 and 2011. It served as the second adaptation of the novel after Berg’s 2004 movie of the same name, and explored issues of race, class, and economic hardship in small-town America and high school football.
After a failed planned sequel movie, theFriday Night Lightsreboot will finally enter development with Peacock, perDeadline. The new show will follow a high school football team whose unlikely bid for a State Championship becomes a beacon of hope for their town in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. According to reports,Universal Television will produce the show, with original showrunner Jason Katims returning. He will executive produce alongside Berg and producer Brian Grazer. The originalFriday Night Lightsfeatured an ensemble cast including Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, but no casting deals are known for the reboot.
What This Means For The Future Of The Show
Peacock Could Have A Critical Hit On Its Hands
TheoriginalFriday Night Lightsreceived critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of Middle America and its complex exploration of its characters, and scooped eight Emmy nominations with two wins. If the reboot show is anywhere near as successful as the original series,Peacock could have a big hit on its hands, and there is definite reason for optimism about the direction the show could take moving forward. The fact that the creative trio of Berg, Grazer, and Katims are returning is also a big plus, and should ensure a strong creative direction for the series.
With the right development, there is a good chance the show will hit the ground running.
Peacock is developing a name for itself, and beating Netflix to secure the rights toFriday Night Lightsis a big coup for the streaming platform.Friday Night Lightswill be a strong addition to the platform, and will help to enhance their slate of long-form sports drama shows. With the right development, there is a good chance the show will hit the ground running. There have been planned reboots before that have fallen through, so nothing is guaranteed at this point, but a reimagining of the hit show could be hugely popular.
Our Take On The Friday Night Lights Reboot
The Show Will Look To Appeal To New & Legacy Fans
Friday Night Lightswas so successful because it managed to speak to a diverse audience and connect with those who were sports fans, and those who weren’t. This is something that has proven successful for other sportsshows likeTed Lasso, andthe approach of the creative team will likely be similarto what they achieved with the show’s original run.Friday Night Lightswill look to appeal to the existing fanbase while also appealing to new fans, and the show’s exploration of pertinent themes in modern society should help it achieve this.
Friday Night Lights
Cast
Based on the book of the same name, Friday Night Lights is a sports drama series that centers around the Dillon Panthers, a high school football team in Texas. The show focuses on the small town and the community they share, tackling major social and political issues and the players' challenges as they go through an increasingly difficult season.
