Often touted as the “worst remake” ever made, Danny McBride and Will Ferrell’s 16-year-old film ruined a cult sci-fi franchise. However, Netflix will seemingly redeem the franchise again with its upcoming reboot. Netflix has had some success with a fair share of reboots. For instance, Cobra Kai, which, in many ways, rebooted the original Karate Kid movies, proved to be a massive hit on the streaming giant after Netflix acquired it after two seasons.
The streamer might have struck gold with some reboots, but not all of them have proven to be as profitable as Cobra Kai. Despite this, Netflix is not holding back from investing in another reboot of a cult sci-fi franchise, which received one of the worst remakes over a decade ago. Starring Will Ferrell and Danny McBride, the remake is still remembered as one of the worst attempts at reviving a beloved intellectual property. Hopefully, Netflix will be able to steer the franchise back to its roots and remind viewers of what made it so special in the first place.
Netflix’s Land Of The Lost Reboot Can Redeem The 2009 Movie’s Failures
A Lot Went Wrong With The Flop 2009 Movie
As reports have confirmed (via Deadline), Netflix has set its eyes on Land of the Lost and has even finalized a deal with Legendary Television for the cult sci-fi show’s reboot. Sid and Marty Krofft, who were involved with the original series, have hopped on board as the show’s producers, along with Deanna Krofft Pope, who is Marty Krofft’s daughter and the company’s COO. Not a lot seems to be known about the series’ narrative direction and casting since it is still in its early production stages.
However, to be able to recreate the original series’ success, the reboot must drift as far away from the 2009 movie as it possibly can. Backed by a hefty budget of $100 million, Brad Silberling’s Land of the Lost movie was a massive failure at the global box office. It not only earned as little as $69 million but also garnered almost unanimously negative reviews from viewers and critics from all over the world. The biggest complaint surrounding the movie was that it failed to capture the original tone and spirit of the 1970s show.
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A Land of the Lost adaptation was never supposed to take itself too seriously. However, what was supposed to be a family-friendly caper was turned into a slapstick-heavy, PG-13 comedy by the $69 million Will Ferrell movie that felt nothing like its original counterpart. To make things worse, the movie almost seemingly ridiculed the imaginative world-building and sci-fi elements that made the original special. Hopefully, instead of treading the same path as the 2009 flick, Netflix’s take on the Land of the Lost will honor the original TV show.
Land Of The Lost Deserves A Great New Remake After Becoming A Cult Classic
The 2009 Movie Wasted The Franchise’s True Potential
Long before the 2009 movie completely destroyed everything that made the original Land of the Lost a beloved cult classic, another remake of the original series was created in 1991. Although the remake was not half as bad as the 2009 film, it still failed to recapture the original’s charm. While only time will tell whether Netflix’s take on the franchise will succeed where its predecessors failed, the Kroffts’ involvement with it as producers is an early sign that it is on the right path to reviving interest in its source material.
…To be able to capture the original’s sense of wonder, the Netflix reboot will have to deliver a lot more than just visual spectacle.
After two failed reboots, Land of the Lost deserves a great remake that not only honors the original show but also manages to breathe new life into the franchise’s age-old stories of exploration, survival, and intrigue. Given how CGI technology has significantly improved over the years, the show’s portrayal of the Land of the Lost‘s original dinosaurs, lost civilizations, and bizarre sci-fi ideas will likely not disappoint. However, to be able to capture the 1970s show’s sense of wonder, the Netflix reboot will have to deliver a lot more than just visual spectacle.
