Josh Gad to star in a big screen version of Gilligan’s Island

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Sit right back and you’ll hear a tale about yet another classic television show getting the big screen treatment. GILLIGAN’S ISLAND (you know, LOST without the Smoke Monster?) is on it’s way to a theater near you after years of development hell. Warner Bros. is working with a script written by Josh Gad,Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez. The studio is also looking at Gad to star, most likely as Gilligan.

Gad has been building buzz with roles on TV and film for years now but it was his turn in Trey Parker and Matt Stone‘s musical BOOK OF MORMON that got him the most exposure. This year he appeared in the films JOBS opposite Ashton Kutcher, THE INTERNSHIP, THANKS FOR SHARING, and as the voice of Olaf the snowman in Disney’s FROZEN. GILLIGAN’S ISLAND would be Gad’s biggest starring role to date.

While GILLIGAN’S ISLAND was a family friendly sitcom that introduced young men the world over to the distinct choices in women (sexy Ginger or tomboy Mary-Ann) and the merits of making anything out of coconuts, the show was a campy joke. Still, it is a pop culture icon that could work in various ways as a movie. They could do a spoof of the old show like THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE or something a little different like Will Ferrell‘s take on LAND OF THE LOST. Or, they could do the popular trend and make a gritty reboot.

Whatever direction they go in, GILLIGAN’S ISLAND is going to have to show something unique to warrant audiences shelling out to see it. We don’t need another movie like THE SMURFS or SCOOBY DOO.