In today’s world, classic properties are bound to get a reboot or remake at some point in time. In some instances, this means a new summer blockbuster that re-imagines the original film (Ghostbusters).
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Other times, these properties get rebooted as TV shows. As time goes on, this is starting to look like the most popular idea amongst executives, with a variety of older action franchises getting the green light for a series.
Both Taken and Lethal Weapon currently have shows on the air, and people are tuning in. The latter has already been given a second season. Additionally, more are on the way. A SWAT reboot series has just started filming its pilot episode, with Shemar Moore set to star.
If this is going to continue, networks will hopefully catch on to what the people want, and only choose films that would actually work as a TV series. If they need a little help, there’s nothing to worry about, because we’ve got them covered.
Here are five action movies that actually deserve a TV reboot:
The Fugitive/US Marshals
These Tommy Lee Jones films were a great story on their own, but they also left plenty of room to be expanded. Between the complex relationships the characters had with each other, the plot twists hidden in plain sight, and the procedural nature of the crimes, these thrillers could stretch into multiple seasons of a TV series.
If nothing else, The Fugitive would make for a great anthology series. Take the concept of a man on the run, and change the story each season. This would pull in some higher level actors, and cause the show to really dive into one complex story at a time.
Green Street Hooligans
Many people probably missed Green Street Hooligans, but it’s a great action movie that could endure a massive amount of world-building.
The film – famous for giving Charlie Hunnam the spotlight – focuses on the violence of the gangs that follow around European soccer teams. The main character is American, goes to England to live with his sister, and gets involved in the highly-violent world of football firms.
Since an ensemble is required to make this concept work, it’s a perfect fit for TV. Each member of the firm could get their own backstory, and that could engage audiences on a much deeper level.
The Matrix
Before you get mad, really think about this one for a second.
Warner Bros. says they’re going to go forward with a Matrix reboot – Why not let it happen on premium television? Get on Amazon or HBO where the team can have some creative freedom, and really tell the full story the original trilogy always wanted to.
The second and third films were too packed with information that the magic of the original movie was lost in the shuffle. With a TV series, they could build the world that they had originally planned on.
Battle Royale
If you haven’t seen Battle Royale, you need to check it out. The Japanese action movie was an R-rated version of The Hunger Games, but way better.
A classroom of teenagers is thrown onto an island, given explosive collars to wear on their necks, and told to slaughter each other until only one remains.
The story is one of survival and deceit, and it could make for an epic three-season series.
Blade
People have been begging for a Blade reboot for years, and Marvel is finally set up to do it right.
With the gritty, R-rated style of Marvel’s Netflix shows, there’s a perfect way to make Blade work. The vampire hero can only thrive in adult-driven series, so this makes total sense. There have been rumblings about this series for a couple of years now, and it’s time to pull the trigger.
Which movies do you want to see as TV shows? Let us know in the comments below!
