New Netflix Original Shows: Company Considers 'Wet Hot American Summer' and Royal Drama Series
by Andy NeuenschwanderPut on your camp uniform and get out a stick of gum: "Wet Hot American Summer" might be back soon!
Netflix is reportedly considering reviving the cult classic comedy in the form of an episodic series in their upcoming slate of new original programming. If it goes forward, the series will act as a prequel to the events of the movie, and will involve creators David Wain and Michael Showalter in some form, as the two are currently in talks with the streaming company.
This would be a major revival, considering that the original "Wet Hot" movie came out in 2001, and wasn't even close to a box office success. However, the movie built up a loyal fan base over time through DVD sales, and remains one of the more quotable comedies of the last couple of decades.
Showalter and Wain may have already been working on the prequel: Showalter said in a recent interview that they were considering making a prequel to the movie with the same characters, only the actors playing them would be about a decade older.
However, that admittedly hilarious idea might be difficult to pull off, considering that the original cast included the likes of Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni, Elizabeth Banks, David Hyde Pierce and Janeane Garofalo, all of whom have varying degrees of schedule conflicts.
Also on Netflix's upcoming slate is new drama "The Crown," which centers on the weekly audiences given by Queen Elizabeth II over the last half century. The show is based on the original play "The Audience," which starred Helen Mirren and is being prepped by Stephen Daldry and Peter Morgan, the latter of whom worked on "The Queen."
Netflix has not yet commented on either series, so it remains to be seen what stage of pre-production both projects are in, and who if anyone is lined up to star.