Believe It Or Not
According to Deadline, a pilot for a remake of The Greatest American Hero is in development from the 21 Jump Street and The LEGO Movie team of Phil Lord and Chris Miller.
The Fox Network has given a pilot commitment to the property that was originally created by Steven J. Cannell in the 1980s. Lord and Miller were the directors of the 21 Jump Street remake movie, starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, which was another classic TV series from Cannell in the 80s. Lord and Miller will be executive producers on the hourlong action comedy, along with Cannell’s daughter, television director Tawnia McKiernan. The pilot will be written and exec produced by Rodney Rothman, and produced by 20th TV. Lord and Miller brought Rothman onto Greatest American Hero after working with him as a co-writer on 22 Jump Street, the sequel to 21 Jump Street which has grossed over $300 million worldwide.
The new Greatest American Hero will chronicle inner-city teacher Isaac’s adventures after his discovery of a superhero suit which gives him superhuman abilities. Unfortunately for Isaac, he hates wearing the suit, and has to learn how to use its powers by trial and error because he quickly misplaces the suit’s instructions. He also has to deal with a government handler who has very different objectives than him and struggles as to whether he should use his newfound gifts to help others or just himself.
The original series from Cannell followed a nebbishy teacher who becomes a reluctant superhero after extraterrestrials give him a special suit with powers he can barely understand or control when he loses its instruction manual. William Katt, Robert Culp and Connie Sellecca stared on the original series that ran for three seasons from 1980 to 1983 on ABC.