Hollywood was saddened to hear of the passing of the legendary Sean Connery, who died at the age of 90 following a battle with dementia. The news was followed by a stream of tributes from former stars like Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. While Connery may be gone, his impact will continue to be felt through his extensive body of work. And it would appear that this legacy will be expanding, as one of his final films is being adapted into a television series.
NBC is currently working on a small-screen adaptation of Gus Van Sant’s Finding Forrester, which originally opened in theaters back in 2000. According to Deadline, the show is being developed by TJ Brady and Rasheed Newson, who are both known for their work on Showtime’s The Chi. The show has also tapped a director in Barbershop and Fantastic Four’s Tim Story. The project is also being produced by NBA star Stephen Curry and his Unanimous Media production banner, which is steadily gaining some high-profile credits.
The original Finding Forrester starred Rob Brown as a Black teen who’s gifted at basketball but has a hidden talent for writing. After receiving a scholarship from a prestigious private high school, he crosses paths with a reclusive Scottish writer (Sean Connery) and forms a bond with him and the man schools him in the art of writing.
Ultimately, the 2000 film went onto gross over $80 million at the box office. It also received mostly positive reviews from critics and has become a fan-favorite film among fans of Sean Connery.
Although the new show will borrow from the original film, it will reportedly alter Connery’s character. The series will center on two, gifted Black writers, one being a homeless orphan who parlays his basketball skills into a ticket to a prestigious boarding school. The other main character is a lesbian author who has been reclusive since her career was destroyed by a public scandal.
Finding Forrester is part of a growing trend that’s seeing classic films being revamped into TV series. As of right now, small-screen adaptations of movies like The Sandlot, Conan the Barbarian, A League of Their Own and Snowpiercer are either in development or are already airing. While Forrester is a fine film on its own, the premise of the show, at the very least, seems interesting. Brady and Newson have handled dramatic stories with The Chi, so this appears to be right up their alley.
It remains to be seen how things pan out for the show, but it certainly has potential. Hopefully, it will able to pay tribute to Sean Connery, Rob Brown, and Gus Van Sant’s work all while charting out a new path for itself.
And before you check out the reboot, be sure to check out Finding Forrester, which is currently streaming for free on Amazon Prime.
