"Knight Rider" is back, and on February 17, 2008 the new series will kick-off with a 2-hour movie event.
On December 12, we got the first look at the three KITT cars they'll be using for the flick (and hopefully series one day if the writers strike doesn't continue – sorry, different topic.) In the original series, it was the T-Top Pontiac Trans Am. In 2007, it's an updated Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR. And not only that, there's three different cars playing the part.
Today, at the NBC Studios in Burbank -- between the studio for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "Access Hollywood" -- the new cars were unveiled with a pseudo demonstration with one of the stunt cars. They even gave KITT his own parking spot next to Jay Leno – I guess he won't be using that for a while.
The first car shown was a remote car – no driver! Some really cool stuff! There are two people who control it by a remote control; the thing just moves on its own, opens the doors on its own, drives from side to side. See, as a kid, you always wonder about how the car drove by itself – now I know.
Anyway, the other two cars aren't by remote; they're real cars, including the stunt car. The last car had the cast of the movie there – Justin Bruening (Mike Traceur), Deanna Russo (Sarah Graiman), Bruce Davison (Charles Graiman), and Sydney Tamiia Poitier (Carrie Ruvai).
This "Knight Rider" is a sequel to the original series, which Justin says is definitely a plus for the storyline. "Being a fan of the show, I was very excited about; I didn't want them to mess with [it] – you don't mess with 'the original' anything, it's never really as good. I love the fact that it just continues the story, and there's a huge gap, so within this show, we can go backwards, forwards. We can do anything because there are huge gaps in there to fill in."
Justin's character of Mike Traceur is the son of Michael Knight, but "I clearly don't know that right away," he says. "He's the reluctant hero, an ex-Army Ranger that obviously in the end becomes a hero even though he doesn't want to be. With the writers strike, I haven't gotten a new episode so I don't know if he likes being a hero, but whatever, we'll find out."
Deanna plays the daughter of Charles Graiman, the inventor of KITT. She told ComingSoon.net about the bonding time she had getting to know how the real KITT moves. "We were doing some pretty crazy stunts up in Newhall on this crazy, windy mountain road; it was pretty exciting. I was actually in the passenger seat, and nobody was behind the wheel. They have this amazing rig, a stunt driver locked down to the top of the car on the roof. He's a very talented because at no point did I feel that my life was in danger. Well, ok, I gotta say, I'll be honest with you, the very, very first time I rode in KITT as a passenger, even though I was in the driver's seat, I wasn't in control of the car, it was a little scary. It kind of felt like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, but real. After that first exciting thing, now it just feels like a roller coaster; it's a really cool job. I'm so glad you guys got to check out some of these things because we've been really excited to share it and talk about it."
It was Sydney who just put it bluntly of how awesome this show is really going to be. "It's cool, I think it's a real true kind of staying true to the original idea of the show. There's just cooler stuff we can do, and it's even more kind of weirdly relevant today, because it's actually believable that you can have a car that talks and does all this stuff and that it actually happens. The car itself is super cool and you guys saw the attack mode version, when it came in and popped those crazy 360s or whatever. Just the car itself is really the coolest thing I've seen so far. Certainly there's going to be some interesting stuff that the car does in the movie. And now I think it's even more, for the kids that didn't grow up in the '80s and didn't see [the original] 'Knight Rider,' I think it's something they can totally identify with and it's not so foreign."
The Hoff makes a small cameo in this movie to pass the torch to Justin. It was a surreal experience for him getting on set and seeing the real Michael Knight. "It's definitely one of the highlights of my life, something I can tell my grandkids. It's a lot to process all at once I have to say. It still hasn't sunk that – I don't even tell people what I do because it sounds ridiculous. When I told my friends when I found out, I didn't tell them. They would call and say, 'What have you been up to? You been filming anything?' 'Yeah, I got a job. I'm Knight Rider!?' (in a questioning manner). I don't know any other way to say it than that. And obviously, they're all really excited 'cause we watched it growing up."
The question you're all wondering – who is voicing KITT? The answer: Will Arnett! Sorry all you William Daniels fans out there, he's not back.
But with Will Arnett as the voice, you know there's going to be some of that good humor thrown in. "We all joke around on set with funny things that KITT might say," noted Deanna. "Will Arnett is a brand-new addition to the show, and we're so excited to have him on board. When I first heard talks of him being on it, I was just clamoring with joy. I'm a huge fan of 'Arrested Development'! His voice alone is very memorable, so I think he's a perfect fit for KITT. I'm just really excited to hear what he does with it; there are so many choice one could make."
One thing's for sure, "Knight Rider" is back and better than ever! Stay tuned for more from the cast of the NBC movie when it premieres February 17th.
Extract From, http://www.comingsoon.net
See Trailer http://www.knightrideronline.com/news/2007/12/new_knight_rider_teaser.php
KNIGHT RIDER *********************************** 2008 **********************
Overview
Release Date:
17 February 2008 (USA) morePlot Summary:
Mike Tracer a bitter former Army Ranger and failed race car driver, just got a new lease on life, neither... morePlot Synopsis:
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Artificial Intelligence / Gadget Car / Talking Car / Detective / Character Name In TitleProduction Notes/Status:
Status:
Pre-productionComments:
Status Updated:
2 November 2007Note:
Because this project is categorized as being in production, the data is subject to change; some data could be removed completely.
Justin Bruening (pictured here) plays Mike Tracer
(Michael Knight’s son) in the new “Knight Rider”.
From left to right: Deanna Russo, Justin Bruening
Bruce Davison and Sydney Tamiia Poitier.
Resources -www.hollywoodchicago.com/
******************************************************
NBC officially announces new Knight Rider
'KNIGHT RIDER' REVS UP TO RETURN TO NBC FOR SPECIAL TWO-HOUR MOVIE EVENT ON FEBRUARY 17 AS NEW KITT CAR IS REVEALED
"Knight Rider" Cast Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo, Sydney Tamiia Poitier and Bruce Davison Participate at the Unveiling Event Showcasing the Customized KITT Ford Mustang to Be Featured in Movie
Dave Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C.") and Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity") to Serve as Executive Producers; David Hasselhoff, the Star of the Original "Knight Rider" Series, Appears as a Special Guest Star in His Original Role as Michael Knight
NBC Also Forms Partnership with Ford Motor Company That Provides for Unique Content Opportunity
BURBANK - December 12, 2007 - As "Knight Rider" -- NBC's iconic 1980s television classic that became a runaway success, comes roaring back to life on the network with an updated sequel that will air as a two-hour movie event on Sunday, February 17 (9-11 p.m. ET) -- NBC unveiled the new customized KITT Ford Mustang to be featured in the series in a press event held at NBC's Burbank Studios today.
The movie stars Justin Bruening ("Cold Case," "All My Children"), Deanna Russo ("NCIS," "The Young and the Restless"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Veronica Mars," "Grindhouse") and Bruce Davison ("Breach," "Close to Home"). In addition, David Hasselhoff (NBC's "America's Got Talent") -- who starred in the popular lead role as Michael Knight for four seasons during the original series -- returns as the same character in a special guest-star appearance. Will Arnett (NBC's "30 Rock," "Blades of Glory") will provide the voice of KITT.
Dave Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C.") and Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity") serve as executive producers. NBC also has an arrangement with Ford Motor Company that provides for a unique content opportunity that makes the Ford Mustang one of the stars of the movie.
The three cars to be employed in the series include the KITT Hero -- a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that is playing the part of the everyday Hero car with 540 horsepower; the KITT Attack -- a super high-speed version of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR Hero car that transforms into Attack mode with the help of air-ride technology and specialized body parts -- and a KITT Remote, which is a driverless Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR version of the Hero vehicle.
As the original story resumes, the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) is absolutely the coolest car ever created: its supercomputer capable of hacking almost any system; its weapons systems efficient; and its body -- thanks to its creator's work and nanotechnology -- is capable of actually shifting shape and color. Plus, its artificial intelligence makes it the ideal crime-fighting partner: logical, precise and possessing infinite knowledge. It is the ultimate car -- and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it.
Sarah Graiman is a 24-year old Ph.D candidate at Stanford University, following in her genius father Charles' (Davison) footsteps. But when men attempt to abduct her, Sarah receives a mysterious call from KITT warning her that he's a creation of Charles, who also invented the first KITT 25 years ago -- and that her father is in serious danger.
Sarah and KITT track down her best friend from childhood, Mike Tracer (Bruening), a 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger, whom Sarah hasn't seen since he left home at 18. Having served in Iraq, Mike is now jaded and lost and initially resistant. Eventually he agrees to help Sarah and the two set out to discover who's behind the attempt to procure KITT and find Charles. Along the way, Carrie Rivai (Poitier) plays the agile yet tough FBI agent who has a long-standing friendship with Charles and Sarah. Due to those ties, she is brought into the mix to help in the search.
David Andron is supervising producer and writer. Steve Shill ("Dexter," "The Tudors"), also a co-executive producer, directs the two-hour movie from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.
Resources - http://www.knightrideronline.com/
2008 Telepic/backdoor pilot
On September 26, 2007, NBC announced that it is creating a two-hour backdoor pilot to air later this season.[8] In the new version, Justin Bruening will star as the estranged son of Michael Knight, Mike Tracer.[9] Deanna Russo will play Tracer's one-time girlfriend and love interest, Sarah Kamen.[9] Bruce Davison will co-star as her father, physicist Charles Kamen.[9] Wayne Kasserman co-stars as Mike's roommate and friend.[10] David Hasselhoff is also being approached to appear as Michael Knight.[9]
KITT will be portrayed as a black 550 HP Ford Shelby GT500KR Mustang.[11]
Supervising producer Dave Andron ("Raines") is writing the pilot script, Doug Liman and Dave Bartis ("The O.C.", "Heist") to executive produce.[9]
Variety reports that Transformers inspired Ben Silverman's decision to revive Knight Rider because smallscreen effects are sophisticated enough to have a weekly series with shape shifting cars (though the 1990s series Viper, heavily influenced by Knight Rider, shared the same concept)
NBC announced on December 13, 2007 that the new 2-hour pilot will air on February 17, 2008. Two new cast members were also announced; Will Arnett of Arrested Development fame will be the voice for the new K.I.T.T Mustang, and Sydney Tamiia Poitier, daughter of Sidney Poitier, will play FBI agent Carrie Ruvai.[12]
Resources - http://en.wikipedia.org
THE GOOD NEWS ***************************
1. David Hasselhoff (NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”) – who starred in the popular lead role as Michael Knight for four seasons during the original series – returns as the same character in a special guest-star appearance.
2. The new KITT car will have some “Transformers”-like shape-shifting abilities. The story’s scientific explanation is “nanotechnology”.
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