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Kevin Smith announced that he was working on a Buckaroo Banzai TV show in May, 2016 with MGM. Then in November, 2016 he said he was no longer involved because of a legal dispute between MGM and Director W. D. "Rick" Richter and Writer Earl Mac Rauch. However, it appears that sometime after that Kevin got involved with the TV show again. The project moved from Amazon to Apple and morphed from a live action show to an animated show before apparently being killed in 2020 or 2021, although Smith doesn't say exactly when that happened.

February 9th, 2022

Kevin talked about the end if his involvement with the Buckaroo Banzai TV show on his Fatman Beyond podcast episode called *SPOILERS!* THE BOOK REPORT ON BOBA FETT PT. 1 - FMB LIVE 02/09/2022! What follows is an auto-transcript done by YouTube and put into human readable form.

Kevin Smith was talking about writing scripts for things that never get produced, and pitching ideas and…”it comes down to that person’s taste as to whether or not the world sees that tv show, that movie blah blah blah yeah [sees the light of day].”

Marc Bernardin: “You know and also some of it is personal taste, some of it is “I know what my bosses will like.” You know it could be…it’s the weirdest experience going into a room and pitching somebody who seems to deadpan you the whole way through because what you want is like some feedback, you want some genuine enthusiasm on the other side. And that person could not like what you pitched but know that his boss will, you know, and so you can walk out of that room feeling like you crapped the bed, it’s never going to go and then you get the call it's like yeah, they bought it. Like, wait. What, that guy bought it? He hated it, I could tell. He looked hateful.”

Kevin Smith: “Had that exact story happen to me once. It was like if we pitched Buckaroo Banzai with MGM. This is going back a few years, um a few different places, and the last place we pitched it, like, I really thought the executive was, like, just thought I was a douche because the dude was like kind of like, you know he's like “How's your day” and I was like, “you know, just been pitching everywhere and whatnot”. I said “It would be, you'd make my day a lot better if you guys would buy it” and he was like “All right we're buying it.”

Yeah, all right, great. And then I pitched but it felt like he was being like sarcastic so like I gave a half-hearted pitch and then we left and, you know, I had to go to an fucking oil change place and while I was there I called my agent. I was like, hey man please don't ever send me to that place again. Like that was crazy insulting. Like, nobody has to kiss my ass but like that that dude just fucking treated me like a dick man. And [the agent’s] like “That dude just bought it.”

And I was like, “What?” And he was like, “Wait, he bought it he said that he told you right at the beginning that he was gonna buy it.”

I was like, “I thought he was just being an asshole.” Lovely guy named Morgan when he worked…that was when he worked at…I think we sold it to Amazon first, and then like you know a fucking couple years went by and something didn't happen. Then I jumped off of it, then I got reinvolved at a certain point. And we went and pitched it again and we went and pitched it to Apple. And it was the same exact Morgan.

And I was like, “Oh Morgan, you can make history and buy it twice.” He’s like, “I will” and he did.

And we were set up at Apple for like a long time and and I think…I don't know let me see, the last I heard was, I mean I guess I could talk about this now. I mean, yeah I think it's all over. So I was attached to this you know Buckeroo Banzai thing for years. Live action. Then it morphed into an animated series and that's what we were talking about doing with Apple. And this is crazy but, um, I had a zoom…I'm trying to…let me make sure i’m…just want to make sure i'm not gonna get in trouble. Yeah i'm like…is there…well I mean, there’s no like…it’s telling tales out of school but like, I think the project's dead anyway so, you know, I guess I could tell the story.

I had a zoom, just like this but it was one-on-one, with Neo himself. Keanu Reeves man who was so fucking sweet, such a nice guy, like just fucking lovely. And he was like, um he's going, “So Buckaroo Banzai.” He was going, like, I'm like, “I just think it would be fun.” Like it was crazy and he was in for like a half a minute for playing our Buckaroo Banzai, the voice of our Buckaroo Banzai in the animated series. He's like, “I love animation. I love comic books. And I've always loved Buckaroo Banzai.”
…
He told me he loved me, this is a no-brainer, and I was like oh my god, I couldn't believe it and stuff. And then he jumped out, he sent me a note and he was, just like, it was great to talk to you unfortunately I can't do Buckaroo Banzai based on something else or whatever.
…
But you know that project went on for a long time and I swore at that point, I was like, oh my god, if we've got fucking Neo playing the voice of Buckaroo Banzai, this is gonna happen. And it didn’t happen. It didn't happen.

Marc Bernardin: “Well there's always round three.”

Kevin Smith: “Not after I tell that story they're like, you're fucking fired dude. And plus, the third time's a charm with like, someone else. I’m sure they're like, once bitten, twice shy you know. And I had like one,

Marc Bernardin: “Well find out where Morgan is working now…”

Kevin Smith: “He is my lucky charm, that I should just literally go pitch to him all the time. … When we first got to Apple, I mean now that like we're telling tales we first got to Apple it was a live action fucking Banzai and it was like way international where they’re like we're gonna have you shoot in Japan. We’re gonna have you shoot here. They were like you know I was like well the banzai institute is in New Jersey. They were like can it be in Japan? And I was like yeah of course it could yeah, at the very least absolutely. … So no go for me that's a deal.”

Kevin mentioned someone named Morgan on the podcast and that appears to be Morgan Wandell. He was the executive at Amazon who bought BB for TV. When he moved to Apple, he bought it again. This article talks about his move to Apple.

Former Amazon Head of International Productions is moving to Apple to Develop Big Ticket Shows

Amazon Studios alum Morgan Wandell has been tapped to lead international development for Apple Video. Wandell built a career in US network television with series like ABC's Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Ghost Whisperer and CBS's Criminal Minds before going to Amazon. Wandell may have owed his position at Amazon to a career in broadcast, but he doesn't hold high hopes for the future of the networks he came from. Wandell once stated that it's very challenging for the networks. "I have no crystal ball but it's a lot more fun to be the disruptor than the disrupted."
 
Variety reports today that "At Apple, Wandell will be tasked with developing big-ticket productions that can travel well around the world. He will report to Apple Video chief content officers Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg in his role as head of international creative development for worldwide video. He starts at Apple's Culver City office at the end of this month.
 
Wandell's move to Apple has been in the works for months. He's the latest high-profile hire in the unit that former Sony Pictures TV presidents Van Amburg and Erlicht have been building out for the tech giant since June. The creative community has been abuzz with talk of content deals in the works at Apple, suggesting that a first wave of greenlights is coming soon." Read the full report here.
 
In August Apple Snagged Matt Cherniss, Former President of WGN America, for Entertainment Programming Development and in earlier this month Apple Inked a Content Deal with Spielberg and NBCUniversal.
 
Apple is definitely building a sound team with deep Industry experience and when the new service is made available in the future it's going to be a mega service for Apple. Hopefully Apple's team will focus on creating great dramas and content that is neutral for all Apple fans and families to enjoy and not veer off to push "Apple Values."

February 10, 2022

On February 10, 2022, the following information was posted on the Comicbook.com website:

Kevin Smith Reveals He Had Conversations With Keanu Reeves About His Buckaroo Banzai Project at One Time
By AARON PERINE - February 10, 2022 01:20 pm EST

Kevin Smith talked about his Buckaroo Banzai project and who was tabbed for the lead role. During the most recent episode of Fatman Beyond, the host told Marc Bernadin about Keanu Reeves' nascent involvement with the project. Reportedly, the director had pitched the project to numerous studios before Apple signed up for it. Then, along the way, Smith had a one-on-one conversation with The Matrix star where he expressed genuine interest in the role. From the sounds of things, Reeves wasn't aboard for very long, but tons of fans in the chat wondered what that animated series could have been like. The actor has been no stranger to the world of comics and has expressed real love for the medium. However, some times these things just fall apart before they can really get going. Smith had to pace himself multiple times during the story because of contract liability, even though this was a while ago. But, fans are glad to have the idea out in the world. Read what he said down below.

"I got reinvolved at a certain point and we went and pitched it again," Smith began. "We went and pitched it to Apple… We were set up at Apple for a long time. Last I heard was… I guess I can talk about this now. I was attached to this Buckaroo Banzai thing, live action, for years. Then, it morphed into an animated series."

"That's what we were talking about doing with Apple. We had a Zoom with… let me make sure I'm not going to get in trouble… I had a Zoom, one-on-one just like this, with Neo himself. Keanu Reeves, who was so f****** sweet. Such a nice guy," Smith added. "Like just fucking lovely.He was going, 'So, Buckaroo Banzai…I just think it would be fun.' It was crazy and he was in for like half a minute. For being our Buckaroo Banzai, to voice our Buckaroo Banzai in the animated series."

Previously on an episode of Fatman Beyond (see Comicbook.com article below), the director talked about that idea coyly. "If I was writing a Keanu Reeves vehicle, I'd put him in Buckaroo Banzai," Smith explained. "That's what I'd do. It's a good idea. Somebody should try that."

MGM had a lawsuit over the rights to the property in the past. They claimed writer Earl Mac Rauch and W.D. Richter "[had] now asserted in multiple letters to Plaintiffs that they, not Plaintiffs, supposedly own the exclusive right to produce and distribute a Buckaroo Banzai television series," reads MGM's lawsuit. "There is now a substantial controversy between the parties with great immediacy. MGM seeks to develop its new television series without Defendants' interference. Accordingly, Plaintiffs bring this action to seek a declaration of the rights and legal relations of the parties with regard to Buckaroo Banzai."

May 25th, 2020

On May 25th, 2020, the following information was posted on the Comicbook.com website:

Kevin Smith Would Put Keanu Reeves in Buckaroo Banzai
By RUSS BURLINGAME - May 25, 2020 09:07 pm EDT

The 1984 cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension featured RoboCop and Psych star Peter Weller in the title role, one of the iconic parts he played in the '80s and probably his most lauded performance. The idea of rebooting the franchise has been floated a few times, including once with filmmaker Kevin Smith at the helm -- and during a recent podcast, Smith revealed his dream casting for Buckaroo Banzai. As with so many roles these days, the choice was Bill and Ted Face the Music star Keanu Reeves who, with the success of John Wick and the return of The Matrix, is suddenly an actor with multiple active franchises.

Smith's brush with a reboot was fairly short-lived. MGM Television and Amazon Studios were interested in launching a Buckaroo Banzai TV series, and Smith was set to showrun. It fell apart when MGM filed a suit against the original film's creators, revealing to Smith a relationship between the studio and talent that had been rotting from the inside.

"If I was writing a Keanu Reeves vehicle, I'd put him in Buckaroo Banzai," Smith said in response to a fan on his Fatman Beyond podcast. "That's what I'd do. It's a good idea. Somebody should try that."

Given the reactions that Smith and co-host Marc Bernardin had to the question, it seems likely that Reeves was the name he had in mind when he was doing the Amazon series. At minimum, it's pretty clear that this is already a conversation the two have had. The pair didn't have time to get into it, though, as Bernardin's answer to the Reeves question -- The Highlander -- sparked a lengthy sidetrack.

The original film was written by Earl Mac Rauch and directed by W.D. Richter, who sued MGM shortly after news of the TV series became public. That came as a shock to Smith, who had been planning to involve the pair in the prospective series.

Per MGM's lawsuit, Rauch and Richter "[had] now asserted in multiple letters to Plaintiffs that they, not Plaintiffs, supposedly own the exclusive right to produce and distribute a Buckaroo Banzai television series," states MGM's lawsuit. "There is now a substantial controversy between the parties with great immediacy. MGM seeks to develop its new television series without Defendants' interference. Accordingly, Plaintiffs bring this action to seek a declaration of the rights and legal relations of the parties with regard to Buckaroo Banzai."

At the time of Smith's departure, MGM was said to be moving forward with the show, but there has been no more news since.

November 28th, 2016

On November 28th, 2016, the following information was posted on the Deadline Hollywood website:

Kevin Smith Says He's "No Longer Involved" In 'Buckaroo Banzai' TV Series

There hasn't been a single ruling in MGM's copyright lawsuit for a Buckaroo Banzai TV series, but there's already two clear casualties: Kevin Smith and the show itself, at least for now. After the studio filed legal paperwork November 23 against the 1984 movie's director W.D. Richter and writer Earl Mac Rauch, the Clerks creator went online today to declare "I'm no longer involved" with the proposed Amazon TV series version.

"This is not what I signed up for," Smith said of the legal issues while praising MGM in other respects (watch the video below). "I was caught off-guard [by the lawsuit]. I literally had no idea. It blows, man, because that's the closest I've [come] to having my own show so far."

Additionally, Deadline has learned that with this pronouncement by Smith and MGM's moves in the courts, the project is in limbo at Amazon until the legal matters are resolved. When contacted by Deadline, Amazon had no comment on the series or the lawsuit. As Deadline revealed during Comic-Con this summer, Amazon and MGM had locked a deal for a Smith run Buckaroo TV series intended to debut in 2017.

That's all just paper now, it seems.

In his 18-minute-plus assertion on Facebook Live from Florida this afternoon, Smith said he was floored by The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension pic when he saw it as a teenager and wanted Richter and Rauch to work on his series project. "Without those two dudes, I don't fall in love with that property," he said. "I don't want to make anything unless those two dudes are involved. They had the vision. Like, all we're doing is taking their amazing vision and making a TV show of it."

Later in the video, Smith says: "I'm no longer involved. I don't wish anybody harm; I wish all parties well. I hope these dudes come to an agreement, and if they do and they still want me involved down the road, I'll be here. But why would they?"

Noting that the legal action was "news to me," Smith said, "This lawsuit comes from MGM legal - it doesn't come from any of the people I met at MGM."

He compared the situation to having someone want to remake one of his old movies against his wishes.

"Let's say one day that the people that own Miramax now [said], 'Hey, we want to make Clerks,' " Smith says in the clip. "And I'm like, 'Well, I don't want you to make Clerks - not while I'm alive.' And then they sue me to make sure that they can make Clerks without me being involved. Well, what goes around comes around in life. I'm not saying anybody is wrong in this situation, but what I'm saying is, respectfully to all parties involved - I'm out."

You can see Kevin Smith discuss leaving the Buckaroo Banzai TV show here.


July 29th, 2016

On July 29th, Kevin discussed the proposed TV series with the SuperHeroHype website (http://www.superherohype.com/news/379443-kevin-smith-talks-his-buckaroo-banzai-series-director-wishlist#WO00lspBBMYjEKyX.01)

Kevin Smith Talks His Buckaroo Banzai Series Director Wishlist

In May, filmmaker Kevin Smith revealed that he's developing a television version of the cult classic MGM film The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. ComingSoon.net had the chance to catch up with Smith at Fantasia Fest for the Canadian Premiere of Yoga Hosers to talk to him 1-on-1, and he revealed some of his ambitious plans for the Buckaroo Banzai series. Check back this week for our full Kevin Smith interview!

"With 'Buckaroo Banzai' we get to tell the whole movie in ten episodes, so you get to expand some things" Smith told us. "We're gonna take a lot of stuff from Earl Mac Rauch's brilliant novelization book of 'Buckaroo Banzai' that included Hanoi Xan, his arch nemesis, who we want Peter Weller to play. We'll layer that in, but also moments like... In 'Buckaroo Banzai they're all standing around talking about when the aliens came during the night of the 'War of the Worlds' broadcast. It's people trading information, saying it out loud. We're gonna do a whole episode about that night and them approaching Orson Welles and all that. Moments where you're like, 'Wow, that's a cool concept' you get to expand and play with a little bit."

Smith also revealed his wishlist of directors he wants to helm episodes of the Buckaroo Banzai series once it heads into production, a list that includes some genre heavyweights.

"The big fun for me is going to be collecting the team, 'cause I ain't gonna direct it all," Smith continued. "I wanna get the people who loved it as much as me, so people like Richard Kelly, Edgar Wright, I'm gonna reach out to Quentin Tarantino, see if they'll direct an episode. 'Here's a chunk of change, a 50-page script, eight days... go make your section. That'd be fun. It also means I won't take all the heat myself. (laughs) 'Quentin was here, he didn't f*ck it up!'"

The original film was released in 1984 and featured an all-star ensemble cast, including John Lithgow, Clancy Brown, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyd, and of course Peter Weller as the title character, who is described by one of the characters in the film as thinking "he's Einstein, James Bond and Batman all rolled into one!" A box office bomb at the time of its release, the film has gone on to become a cult favorite with several spin-offs comics and sequel talk coming out over the years.

"(It's) one of my favorite movies in the world and largely responsible for the weird s--- that I make, because that movie was supposed to be one thing but it did it in another way. It just did it very off-center," Smith said previously. "Basically, you just do the entire movie for season one, and then season two you finally do the sequel we've all dreamed about,: Buckaroo Banzai Versus the World Crime League."

June 21st, 2016

On June 21st, Kevin posted the following on his Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/p/BG7jOYqRy16/):



"There can be only one!" At @edfilmfest, I ran into #ClancyBrown - The Kurgan from #Highlander, the best Lex Luthor we've ever had, and of course, Rawhide from #BuckarooBanzai. Clancy's word of warning regarding the Buckaroo series we're working on: "Don't fuck up our movie." I assured him I wouldn't and that he can see to that personally by being with us on the show. It was awesome to meet him because he's such a big part of the Buckaroo reboot. I've been thinking about the guy a ton as we break story and here he is in #Edinburgh celebrating 30 years of Highlander. If all goes well, in a few months, I'll see Clancy again on set! #KevinSmith #edinburghcastle #edinburghfilmfestival"


June 10th, 2016

On June 10th, Kevin posted the following on his twitter account (https://twitter.com/ThatKevinSmith/status/741323997242101761):

"MGMtv & I pitched #BuckarooBanzai yesterday The result? 3 serious suitors! So looks like WE'RE GONNA BE MAKING THE SHOW! AHHHH #TeamBanzai"






Also on June 10th, the following information about Kevin Smith selling the Buckaroo Banzai TV series was posted:

Kevin Smith confirms Mallrats 2 will be a 10-episode TV series. He also reveals that MGM has found a home for the Buckaroo Banzai series.
http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/06/kevin-smith-confirms-mallrats-2-will-be-a-10-episode-series/
BY MICHAEL ROFFMAN on June 10, 2016, 11:03AM


It’s been over a year since we’ve heard some legitimate news from Kevin Smith about Mallrats 2. Last May, the veteran filmmaker and certified nut bar confirmed that the long gestating sequel would be titled Mallbrats, that 18 familiar faces would return alongside six fresh, new characters, and that shooting would start later in 2015 for a 2016 release.

Instead, this happened: Yoga Hosers

But, there’s a reason for the delay. This morning, Smith stopped by 93.3 WMMR for an appearance on Preston & Steve, where he digressed on Mallbrats, explaining why the project’s been in limbo and how it’s going to finally come into fruition. Long story short, it’s experienced all sorts of legal mumbo jumbo with Universal, but here’s the long story straight from the moose’s jaw:

“I called my agency and I said, ‘Hey man, can I just make a Mallrats sequel? Universal owns it, but do I really need to make this with Universal? Can’t I just write a script and buy the title from them?’ And the agent told me, ‘Yeah, absolutely, they’ll let it go.’ And I said, ‘Are you positive? Because I don’t want to start this if that’s not the case.’ He says, ‘Oh yeah, there are three ways you can make this movie: You finance it yourself; you finance it with the studio, co-financed; or they finance it, but, you know, it’ll probably be, since it’s an old movie and it’s a small title, it’ll probably be you financing it yourself.’

“So, I was like, ‘Oh my god, alright, right on, that’s what I like to hear, nobody can stop me from self-expressing.’ So I wrote my script, put everything together, and then I told my agent, when I was done, ‘Alright, I’m ready to go, do we have to reach out to Universal for approval or something or let them pass or whatever?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, we have to submit the script.’ And I was like, ‘Why do we have to submit the script?’ ‘Because they own the property and it’s a formality … it’s going to be fine.’

“And so we submitted the script and my agent comes back to me and he goes, ‘Well, apparently Universal has never let a catalogue title go, any title they own, they’ve retained, they’ve never done something where they’re like, ‘Oh, you can take it back and go make a sequel. Never in the history of the studio.’ So, I was like, ‘Wait, but you told me that was one of my options.’ ‘Well, apparently I was wrong. So, right now there are two options: you make it fully studio financed or you co-finance it with the studio.’ So we entered a protracted negotiation with Universal trying to get it made in different pockets of the studio.”

After realizing he hadn’t told anybody about this, he confirmed, “It is happening. It’s taking us a longer time to build it, but what we did was reconfigured it. You know, Mallards is a 20 year old movie, and the idea of sexualizing a 20-year-old movie to some people is like,  ‘Why would you bother? It wasn’t successful the first time. What’d you guys make?’ We’re like, ‘Two million?’ ‘Alright, well, I don’t know if the world is screaming out for this.’ However, I went and directed an episode of The Flash, and when I went up there, it was kind of a weird game changer for my career. I felt at home in the medium.

“And suddenly because I did the episode of The Flash, like MGM reached out about Buckaroo Banzai and suddenly that came together and we went out and pitched yesterday and found a home for it. I can’t say who it is because that deal is not final, but yesterday we sold Buckaroo Banzai as a TV series. So, while I’m in that world and space, a couple months ago, we started reconfiguring the idea of doing Mallrats not as a film but as a series, and Universal and I are just about to close our deal to do Mallrats the series. Then we take it out into the world and find a home for it. So, instead of doing a Mallrats movie, I’m going to do 10 episodes of a Mallrats series.”

After dropping those major bombshells, he further confirmed that he still plans to shoot the series in Exton, PA, specifically at the Exton Square Mall, as he previously announced last year. So, to recap: Both Mallrats and Buckaroo Banzai are coming to our small screen in the near, near future and we all have Kevin Smith to blame. Not too shabby.

Don’t forget, Yoga Hosers hits theaters on July 29th.

May 17th, 2016

On May 17th, Kevin posted the following on his twitter account (https://twitter.com/ThatKevinSmith/status/732481341376200704):

It is my intent to assemble a dream team of cult movie directors for the 10 episodes of the #BuckarooBanzai series:



Also on May 17th, the following on Kevin's facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/YesThatKevinSmith):




‬

This story was quickly picked up by other websites such as:

Kevin Smith is developing a Buckaroo Banzai TV series
http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/16/kevin-smith-buckaroo-banzai-tv-series
The show would adapt the 1984 sci-fi film that starred Peter Weller
BY OLIVER GETTELL • @OGETTELL

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Posted May 16 2016 — 10:11 PM EDT

Kevin Smith is looking to bring the eighth dimension to the small screen.

EW can confirm that the Yoga Hosers and Clerks director is developing a TV series based on The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, the offbeat 1984 sci-fi film that starred Peter Weller as a genius scientist, experimental race car driver, and rock star who saves the world from reptilian aliens.

During the latest episode of his Hollywood Babble-On podcast, Smith said the project came about as a result of his recent gig directing an episode of The Flash, which has “has opened up weird doors” for him. One of those doors, he said, led to a potential Buckaroo Banzai series with MGM, which owns the rights to the property. (A spokesperson for the studio declined to comment.)

Smith is a longtime fan of Buckaroo Banzai, describing it as “one of my favorite movies in the world and largely responsible for the weird s‑‑‑ that I make, because that movie was supposed to be one thing but it did it in another way. It just did it very off-center.”

Written by Earl Mac Rauch and directed by W.D. Richter, the original film is indeed a genre-bending romp, lacing its sci-fi antics with campy comedy delivered in a deadpan tone. The cast also included John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum, and Christopher Lloyd.

As for how he’d approach the adaptation, Smith said, “Basically, you just do the entire movie for season 1, and then season 2 you finally do the sequel we’ve all dreamed about, Buckaroo Banzai Versus the World Crime League.” The latter story was teased in the end credits of the original film but never realized.




Kevin Smith Is Reportedly Turning ‘The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai’ Into A TV Series
http://uproxx.com/tv/kevin-smith-buckaroo-banzi/

BY: JOSH KURP 05.16.16

On his Hollywood Babble-On podcast, Kevin Smith briefly stopped talking about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to discuss all the opportunities he’s received since directing an episode of CW’s The Flash. “I’ve never f*cking done anything in my life that had more people saying, holy sh*t, good job,” he said. “Like 22-year career, man. Not even in the beginning, when they liked me and sh*t.” That episode has opened up some “weird doors,” including a meeting with MGM about turning The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension into a television series. The 1984 Peter Weller-starring film, which defies any simple genre classification (it’s a science fiction comedy drama romance adventure thriller), is one of Smith’s favorites, and “one of the reasons why I make f*cked up movies and can’t be like J.J. [Abrams] and sh*t.”

MGM executives wanted to know if Smith had any ideas on how to turn Buckaroo into a TV show. Boy did he! “Basically you just do the entire movie for season one, then season two you finally do the sequel we’ve all dreamed about, Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League.” (The credits mention the sequel, but it was never made.) Apparently, MGM liked what Smith pitched (I imagine hockey jerseys and Johnny Depp were involved) because next month, “we take it out and try to find a home for it.”

Our own Andrew Husband named Buckaroo Banzai, which also stars John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, and Christopher Lloyd (as John Bigbooté!), “hands-down the best B-movie ever created.” I’d go even further: I’d say it’s the best movie about a neurosurgeon who’s also a rock god and physicist ever.




Kevin Smith Wants To Bring BUCKAROO BANZAI To TV
http://www.filmbuffonline.com/FBOLNewsreel/wordpress/2016/05/16/kevin-smith-wants-bring-buckaroo-banzai-tv/

BLUE BLAZE IRREGULAR ALERT!!
May 16, 2016 Rich Drees

It’s a collision of an ’80s cult classic and a ’90s cult director.

Kevin Smith has announced that he is teaming with MGM to develop a television version of the 1984 cult film, and favorite here at FilmBuffOnline, The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai: Across The Eight Dimension.

Speaking on his Hollywood Babble-On podcast, Smith stated that his recent directorial turn for an episode of The CW’s The Flash, has lead to a number of invitations to meetings around Hollywood. One of those meetings was with MGM, who pitched the idea of adapting the cult film into a television series.


Smith presented the studio with the following idea on how to bring the film to the small screen –


Smith also stated his intention to possibly bring back some of the original cast from the film, like Peter Weller or John Lithgow, but have them play new roles, most likely villains. He specifically name-checked Weller for perhaps playing Buckaroo’s arch enemy, Hanoi Xan, ho has only appeared in the films’ novelization and spinoff comics. The director is looking to “take it out and try to find a home for it” during the next month.

This is not the first time that there has been an attempt to turn Buckaroo Banzais’ adventures into weekly television fodder. In 1998, FOX was developing such a series with Buckaroo’s creator, screenwriter Earl Mac Rauch and the film’s director, W. D. Richter. The project never got beyond a pilot script and promotional video seen below. The screenplay did serve as the basis for one of the Buckaroo Banzai comic book miniseries from publisher Moonstone Comics a few years back.

Honestly, I am not sure quite how to feel about this.

Both Buckaroo Banzai and Kevin Smith were big influences in my life in their respective decades. Buckaroo Banzai showed a high school kid that he didn’t have to follow just one preordained path in life but he could live it, to quote the film’s opening scroll, “going in many directions at once.” A decade later, Smiths’ movies showed me that there were others out there who had the same geeky conversations that my friends and I had, who had the same stupid relationship problems that I did. Together they molded a good portion of who I am and what drives me today.

But I feel oddly… detached, I guess is the right word. While I do love both of these things, I am not sure that they resonate on frequencies that are harmonious with each other. The fact that Smith is willing to reach out to Rauch is, of course, a good sign. I am concerned that this might not make the Reese’s peanut butter cup of geekdom that everyone else seems to think it will be.

Of course we should realize that this is the vaguest of vaporware at this point. No script has been written. No network has even been met with yet. This might be the only time we ever hear of this project. Such is the nature of Hollywood. But we’ll be keeping out out to see what, if anything, develops. Believe it.



May 16th, 2016

On May 16th, 2016, Kevin Smith announced on his Hollywood Babble On podcast (http://www.smodcast.com/channel/hollywoodbabbleon) that he'd made a deal with MGM to create a Buckaroo Banzai TV show. You can hear the podcast announcement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H6Xw4qZrrA&feature=youtu.be

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This page was last updated on March 9th, 2022.
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