(Center) Burt Reynolds in 2005’s ‘The Longest Yard.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Preview:
- A new movie of ‘The Longest Yard’ is in the works.
- The film finds a former star quarterback sent to prison, who builds a team there.
- Burt Reynolds and Adam Sandler starred in previous versions.
What do Burt Reynolds and Adam Sandler have in common? It’s certainly not comedy songs about Hannukah.
No, the two actors have both starred in a version of prison-set sports comedy drama ‘The Longest Yard’, with Reynolds anchoring the 1974 (and showing up for a decent role in the 2005 Sandler variant).
And now the plan is to make yet another version of the story. At this rate, there will be remakes so far in the future the sport featured will be Rollerball, not football.
What’s the story of ‘The Longest Yard’?
Burt Reynolds in 1974’s ‘The Longest Yard.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
The 1974 original was based on a story by Al Ruddy, directed by Robert Aldrich and written by Tracy Keenan Wynn. It starred Reynolds as Paul “Wrecking” Crewe, a former star quarterback who is sentenced to 18 months in Citrus State Prison, where he puts together the Mean Machine team to play the guards’ team.
It was remade in 2005 by director Peter Segal and written by Sheldon Turner. Sandler led the cast as the washed-up quarterback, who puts together a team in prison in exchange for a reduced sentence. Chris Rock, James Cromwell, Nelly and William Fichtner also starred, as did Reynolds.
Given his death in 2018, Reynolds obviously won’t be appearing in this one (though we’d be shocked if there wasn’t some small reference to him), so perhaps Sandler will be willing to take on the baton and show up for at least a cameo?
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Who is behind the new take on ‘The Longest Yard’?
(L to R) Delante Desouza as Michael Cooper, Quentin A. Shropshire as James Worthy, Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson, Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Joel Allen as Kurt Rambis in HBO’s ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.’ Photograph by Warrick Page/HBO.
According to Deadline, Paramount Pictures, which produced both previous movies, is backing this one, hoping to secure a new audience.
The studio is working with production company Gunpowder & Sky, whose whose CEO Van Toffler was an executive producer on the 2005 version when he worked at Viacom.
On the writing front, Rodney Barnes, who was an executive producer and writer on recently cancelled HBO series ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’, is crafting the script.
There is no director or star attached yet –– as mentioned, the studio might try to tempt Sandler to come back for a cameo, but it’s still early days.
And given that the actors’ strike remains in full effect (there appears to have been some progress, but it’s far from over yet), casting will also have to wait. Yet Paramount will want to get this one moving, since it’s a new take on a recognizable title and features and evergreen subject matter in its sports theme.
Where can I see the previous movies?
(Right) Burt Reynolds in 1974’s ‘The Longest Yard.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Both the 1974 and 2005 versions are streaming on Paramount+ and are available for rental or purchase at other digital outlets.
Here’s the trailer for the 1974 Burt Reynolds film:
And the trailer for the 2005 Adam Sandler movie:
The cast of 2005’s ‘The Longest Yard.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
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