The 1960s British TV series The Avengers is undergoing a reboot by StudioCanal, which holds the rights to the original. This attempt follows a previous failed attempt by Iron Man 3 director Shane Black, who disclosed writing a pilot for a Warner Bros. TV series in 2018. The original series, created by Sydney Newman, ran from 1961 to 1969 and starred Patrick Macnee in the lead role of John Steed.
Game of Thrones fame Diana Rigg played one of the female leads in the series. The series received a sequel in 1976, titled The New Avengers, with Macnee returning to his role. It also received a film adaptation of the same name in 1998, starring Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman.
The Avengers Reboot Is Under Development, Pilot Already Written
StudioCanal has reportedly greenlit a reboot of The Avengers, and the development of a pilot is underway with no confirmed broadcast or streaming partner yet. According to Deadline, the writers of the hit BBC series Industry, Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, have been enlisted to write the pilot, which has already been completed. Ben Taylor, who directed several episodes of Sex Education, is attached as a director and executive producer on the series.
The original series, starring Patrick Macnee, saw several changes in cast members and characters throughout its six-season run. Although initially not intended to be the central character, Macnee’s John Steed quickly became a fan favorite. The series was a quirky espionage show, with a James Bond-like character saving the day for the state alongside his changing female partners.
In 1998, the series finally received its film adaptation after several attempts over the years, even involving Mel Gibson at one point. Unfortunately, the film was panned by critics and became one of the worst-reviewed movies ever. Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman played the lead roles in this movie, which was doomed from the beginning. The film was heavily edited after early test screenings and had a review embargo before its release.
The Avengers was, at one point, the lowest-scoring film on Metacritic (currently 12th lowest). Despite its $60 million budget, the film only managed to gross $23 million at the box office. Warner Bros.’ unsuccessful attempt may have left many skeptical about the prospects of remaking this project.
Also Read: “Marvel fumbled”: Canceled What If Season 1 Episode Had Links to Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man 3
Iron Man 3 Director Unsuccessfully Attempted The Avengers Reboot With Warner Bros.
In 2018, Fred Dekker, director of The Monster Squad and RoboCop 3, revealed to The Dark Side Magazine that he and his long-time associate, Shane Black, were working on a reboot of The Avengers. Black helmed projects like Iron Man 3 and The Nice Guys, and co-wrote the script of The Monster Squad with Dekker. Dekker shared that the project was influenced by the 1965 film The Ipcress File and Doctor Who. Dekker told the magazine (via ScreenRant):
“It’s The Avengers, with John Steed and Emma Peel. We’re setting it in Britain in the ’60s, and our approach is The Ipcress File meets Doctor Who. At this moment, it’s my favorite thing we’re working on.”
In another instance, writer and comedian Charlie Higson revealed that he and associate Paul Whitehouse were approached to revamp the show for television. Higson explained to RadioTimes that they turned down the project due to fear of failing to meet fan expectations.
The Avengers Seasons 2 to 6 are now available for rent on AppleTV+.
