'Friday Night Lights' Movie Remake in the Works

ODESSA, TX-- It looks like “Friday Night Lights” is making another comeback.

Variety reported on Wednesday that a remake of the 2004 film which starred Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, Tim McGraw and Connie Britton is in the works.

In the original movie based off H.G. Bissinger’s book, the story of the 1988 Permian High School Panther’s season is chronicled with some truths embellished for cinematic effect, like the 1988 Texas Class 5A State Championship game between Dallas Carter and Mojo, the semi-final in real life, player’s positions and even the famed coin flip that got Permian into the 1988 playoffs after their final regular season game.

In the 2004 movie, the coin flip came after the Panthers had to come from behind against Midland Lee in the regular season finale when the Rebels had to come back and beat Mojo 22-21 in reality. That game was not the regular season finale for Mojo, however. The 1988 Permian regular season concluded against the Central Bobcats. Also, the coin flip for the three-way tie in the movie featured Abilene Cooper, Midland Lee and Permian while the actual coin flip featured Midland High, Midland Lee and Permian. Midland High was not mentioned in the movie, although their likeness was used to portray the Marshall “Bulldawgs”. Marshall High School, out in east Texas are the Mavericks.

Some of these changes were probably made due to continuity and licensing issues.

The remake in the works is said to be a “reimagining” of Bissinger’s 1990 publication and not a sequel to the original movie or the NBC series.

Ideas of a sequel to the 2004 film and a feature film based off Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) from the TV series have been thrown around by Universal, but they ultimately settled on a whole new cast and crew to portray their reimagining of the 1988 season.

David Gordon Green, who helmed “Stronger” and “Pineapple Express”, is reportedly in final negotiations to helm the new “Friday Night Lights”. Brian Grazer will produce for Imagine Entertainment while Executive Vice President of Production, Jon Mone, and Lexi Barta, a creative executive, will oversee Universal’s production of the film. Robert Schenkkan wrote the screenplay for the remake and tweeted that principal photography for the film will begin in September.

No details about the cast, filming locations or plot have been released, but the movie will focus on high school football and its community impact in Texas towns.