Bill Murray’s first leading movie role is getting a TV remake.
Although the Hollywood legend had a few bit parts in films before the release of 1979’s Meatballs, the summer camp comedy represented Murray’s first leading role in a movie. It also paved the way for Murray to work with a pair of collaborators who would help to define his career.
Deadline reports that a television remake of Meatballs is in development at Crave, the Canadian streaming service that’s home to hits like Heated Rivalry and Shoresy. The project is described as a reimagination of the 1979 film of the same name, which focused on camp counselors-in-training in Ontario.
Equal parts sweet and sexy, and consisting of eight episodes, the Meatballs remake takes place in a failing summer camp. But the camp still has the potential to be the best place on earth for 200 kids, with the story focusing on the 30 counsellors who think of the camp as their home away from home. The television show will star Robbie G.K., who recurs as Kip Grady on Heated Rivalry.
Justin Stockman, the Vice-President of Global Content at Bell, previewed what audiences can expect from the new take on Meatballs. He noted there will be an effort to modernize the 1970s film, including gender-swapping some characters, though he promised that the comedy will retain its “racy” quality:
“Meatballs is one of those classic IPs that has been talked about but hard to nail down. I’m happy to say we’ve now nailed down the rights, and can bring it back and modernise it.”
Stockman also noted that the casting of a Heated Rivalry favorite in Robbie G.K. was no coincidence, explaining it as a strategy to lean into Canadian stars that are already well-known to Crave subscribers and beyond: “Part of the strategy is trying to look at globally-known Canadians and work with them to elevate what people think of Canadian content around the world.”
Even though Meatballs has a somewhat forgotten legacy when compared to Murray’s most enduringing roles, like Groundhog Day and his later work in Lost in Translation, it was pivotal for reasons that extend beyond being his first major role. The 1979 title was directed by Ivan Reitman, who would go on to direct Murray in the 1981 film Stripes and the iconic supernatural comedy Ghostbusters, which took Murray’s career to new heights and spawned a franchise.
Harvey Atkin, Kate Lynch, Russ Banham, Kristine DeBell, and Sarah Torgov also starred in Meatballs, which was the first of six collborations between Murray and co-writer Harold Ramis. The original made $70 million at the box office with a budget of less than $2 million. It spawned two sequels and is now getting the television treatment with a recent popular actor.
- Birthdate
-
September 21, 1950
- Birthplace
-
Wilmette, Illinois, USA