Well, I didn’t see this coming. The latest television series to get the big screen treatment will be…MANIMAL?
MANIMAL was an NBC series from the 80s that was cancelled after only eight episodes. The show followed Dr Jonathan Chase, a shape-shifter who could turn himself into any animal he chose, and used this ability to help fight crime. Only two people were aware of Jonathan’s secret, his friend Ty Earl and Police Detective Brooke Mackenzie. Jonathan and Ty would assist Brooke with a case she was working on, with Jonathan transforming himself into an animal when it became useful.
Despite the ability to transform into any animal, Chase would become a panther or a hawk in every episode. Most of the transformations took place off-screen, but when they were shown, the effects were designed by the great Stan Winston. The shows was produced by Glen A. Larson (Magnum P.I., Knight Rider, Battlestar Galactica) who is also producing the feature film.
The movie is coming courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation. Sony knows cheesy CGI/live action films seeing as they are the home of THE SMURFS. SPA also has a live action/animated ALF in development along with THE SMURFS 2. Sony is currently looking for screenwriters for MANIMAL. I would assume they would not be going for a serious tone for the MANIMAL movie, but you never know.