Cameron Crowe Is Trying To Stop NBC’s TV Reboot Of Say Anything

UPDATE: Deadline reports that in light of Cameron Crowe’s strong objection to the project, Fox has shelved plans for the TV show. 

The future of television has been largely fuelled as of late by a return to the past. Networks are raiding cinema’s back catalogue in order to find their next small screen success. This past month alone, we’ve heard news of a Rush Hour reboot, a Minority Report reboot, and heck, there’s even going to be a do-over of the Tom Hanks 80s classic, Big. While most of those projects have the blessing or direct involvement of their original creators, that’s not always the case. Especially when it comes to Cameron Crowe’s teen angst dramedy, Say Anything.

Deadline announced the news yesterday, revealing that NBC and 20th Century Fox TV had picked up the show to be developed as a sequel. Justin Adler had been roped in to write the follow-up, which will apparently be one of the most uninspired and unwanted series ever commissioned.

Here’s the synopsis:

Set in present day, the Say Anything series picks up ten years later. Lloyd has long since been dumped by Diane and life hasn’t exactly turned out like he thought. But when Diane surprisingly returns home, Lloyd is inspired to “dare to be great” once again, get Diane back and reboot his life.

Crowe’s 1989 rite-of-passage tale told the story of Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack), a sweet teen who pines for the companionship of the upper crust Diane Court (Ione Skye.) It’s a rare gem of a teen movie, in that it doesn’t once patronize its cast of characters. Instead Crowe opts to empathize and support their struggles. If you haven’t already seen it, then I highly recommend you do so. Especially in light of this touted reboot.

The director, who was completely unaware of the show, took to Twitter to announce his feelings surrounding it:

Regarding the announcement of a “Say Anything” tv show… @JohnCusack, @IoneSkye1 and I have no involvement… except in trying to stop it.

— Cameron Crowe (@CameronCrowe) October 7, 2014

While Fox and NBC were under no legal obligation to inform Crowe – as they own the rights to the movie – it’s still considered a professional courtesy during these instances. Despite that being the case, Deadline have updated their original story, stating that the project is now “in jeopardy” following Crowe and Cusack’s dissatisfaction with the entire scenario. The star Tweeted an enthusiastic “Hell no!!!” when a fan asked if he was involved in the show.

I’m on the Crowe-Cusack side of the argument here. Sure, the networks have their rights, which were presumably all in order, but it’d have certainly smoothed things over for them to have spoken to Crowe. The movie marked his directorial debut, and is understandably close to his heart. There’s pretty much no need for a rebooted TV show and I can definitely see where the director is coming from here.

We’ll keep you posted when any further news lands on the Say Anything TV series, but for now, let us know how you feel about this project in the comments section below.