10 TV shows from the 80s crying out for the Hollywood treatment

We’re experiencing quite a bit of nostalgia for the 80s at the moment.  We just heard about The A Team movie being back on track and an announcement about a new He-Man movie.  Also, this year sees the release of another Transformers film, G.I.Joe and Dragonball Z (first aired 1989 so just qualifies).  It goes to show that the movie industry is rife with 80s fever so we thought we’d better get involved.

Here’s our list of 10 kids shows from the 80’s that need to be made into live action movies.

 

 

10.- M.A.S.K

If G.I. Joe doesn’t work out later this year they could pretty much have another go at a similar film with M.A.S.K because from what I remember it was pretty much the same idea but with masks.

M.A.S.K were the Mobile Armored Strike Kommand who all wore masks and were led by Matt Tracker.  Not really sure why they all wore masks, I guess it was to fit the name but then command is spelt with a C so it doesn’t really work.  They were in a constant battle V.E.N.O.M, the Viscious Evil Network of Mayhem.

With their amazing array of weapons and incredible vehicles this could make quite an exciting action adventure film.

 

9. - Bananaman

“When Eric eats a banana an amazing transformation occurs.  Eric is Bananaman!  Ever alert for the call to action.”

The problem with Batman is that it’s a little too dark, a little too gritty and the Bat is just too brooding.  Bananaman would be the perfect remedy to lift you out of the depression the Dark Knight imposes.

Also, it would hopefully give Bill Oddy another bit of work, as long as he could fit it in between Spring and Summer Watch.

 

 

8.- ALF

Alf (or Alien Life Form, clever) was a creature from the planet Melmac who stole the worlds heart in the 80s.  He crash landed on earth and was taken in by a normal family.  Rather than just for kids, Alf was more of a sitcom that appealed to both.

ALf had a go at a film back in 1996 but unfortunately his popularity had pretty much died so it didn’t go that well.  Even Martin Sheen couldn’t make the movie a success.

So you probably couldn’t just make an ALF film as it would die on its arse but we’ve got another idea.  Simon Pegg has been talking about his next movie with Nick Frost, Paul.  Its a movie which features an alien (named Paul) that joins the pair on a road-trip.  It’s not clear whether they’re going for a CGI creature and apparently they’re still trying to work out what to do for Paul, well I say look no further than Alf, just change his name and bingo, you’ve got a ready made lovable alien.

 

7.- MacGyver

Macgyver was an enigmatic loner who often found himself working for an organization called the Phoenix Foundation, the government, or a friend in need. He used to encounter all types of dangers and escapes from them not with weapons, but with his ability to create gadgets out of everyday objects.

His enemies ranged from militant drug lords and dictators to racist store owners and I seem to remember killer ants in one episode. No matter what he was up against, Macgyver would always defeat his foes with his cunning, skill, a bit of duct tape and some chewing gum.  

Richard Dean Anderson was MacGyver and was set to disappear from the limelight for good until he re-found fame in the Stargate TV show.  He might be a bit past it now for a MacGyver movie, although we did just see Harrison Ford don his fedora and whip again so who knows?

 

6.- Knightmare

Forget the Hobbit, this is the swords & sorcery style movie Peter Jackson ought to be making.  

OK, so it was technically a quiz show, I’m not suggesting they do a 2 hour version of the actual TV show but anyone could write a script about a boy who accidentally gets his head superglued in a helmet that he can’t see out of and has to be talked through a mysterious world by his friends who keep shouting left whilst he steps right.  Come on people, this writes itself.

 

5.- Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos

OK, OK so hardly anyone’s heard of this, and those that did know it was just basically an animated version of the Delta Force films for kids, but we really like Chuck Norris and want him to make a massive Hollywood blockbuster whilst he still can.

This TV show aired in 1986 and was stopped in 1986.  Only 5 were ever made but each one started with an introduction from the real Chuck Norris who was always in a martial arts studio or a gym working on his roundhouse kicks.

 

 

 

4. - Terrahawks

Some kids liked Thunderbirds, some liked Captain Scarlet but the hardcore watched Terrahawks.

Set in 2020, an alien force has destroyed NASA’s Mars base and now Earth is under threat.  A small organisation, The Terrahawks, is set up to defend the planet (no idea why we just didn’t use a massive army).  They were based in Hawknest, which was secretly located in South America and was where they developed sophisticated weapons to prepare for the battle to come.

Created by Gerry Anderson (the guy behind other puppet shows such as Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet) and Christopher Burr, it was made with puppets but they used hand puppets more so the stupid walks with the obvious string was removed.

The alien force was led by Zelda, the most terrifying of baddies back in the early 80s.  I remember hiding behind the sofa whenever she came on screen.

 

3. - Airwolf

A scientist who has created a super helicopter, codename Airwolf, has defected to Libya and taken the machine with him. A secretive government agency, known only as The Firm, hires Stringfellow Hawke, an ex-Vietnam War pilot, to go to Libya, steal the chopper and bring it back.  Well that was the idea behind the first show.  When Stringfellow got Airwolf back he then decided to hang around a bit to carry out all sorts of secret missions in the chopper with his mentor Dominic, played by Ernest Borgnine.

Airwolf was a blatant rip off of Nightrider, although the helicopter couldn’t talk.  But when you’re a kid you don’t care about things like that, you just enjoy the ride.

I bet there’s very few men in their late 20s who hasn’t at one point had the theme tune to Airwolf as a ringtone, c’mon admit it.

This franchise is crying out for a big Hollywood remake, let’s just hope they don’t let Rob Cohen direct.

 

2.- Voltron

From days of long ago, from uncharted regions of the universe, comes a legend. The legend of Voltron, Defender of the Universe. A mighty robot, loved by good, feared by evil.
As Voltron’s legend grew, peace settled across the galaxy.
On planet Earth, a galaxy alliance was formed. Together with the good planets of the solar system, they maintained peace throughout the universe.

Until a new horrible menace threatened the galaxy. Voltron was needed once more. This is the story of the super force of space explorers, specially trained and sent by the alliance to bring back… Voltron, Defender of the Universe!

Actually, who cares about that, all we want to see is a massive robot kicking arse!

Last year there was talk of a Voltron movie (thanks to the success of Transformers) with Max Makowski attached to direct but there is currently an ongoing argument about who owns the rights to the intellectual property so until thats resolved Voltron won’t be back in business for a little while.

 

 

1.- Thundercats

Thunder thunder thunder Thunder Cats, HOOOOO!  As well as He-Man: Masters of the Universe and Transformers, this has to be one of the best cartoons from the 80s and desperately needs to be made into a live action movie.

The Thundercats, the only surviving inhabitants of the dead planet Thundera, ead by Lion-O and his weapon, the Sword of Omens were on a never ending crusade against Mumra and his evil mutants.  We can’t remember what he wanted and why he kept having a go but it sure made for good viewing when you were a kid.

If they made a live action version, and the casting was right, I could finally stop feeling weird about fancying a cartoon.  Oh Cheetara.

Here’s two fan made trailers to give you a taster of what it could be like.  The first one is OK but the second is awesome.

 

 

Oh, by the way, we didn’t include Knightrider in this list as who the hell knows what’s going on with it?  TV show, no TV show, movie announcement, who can keep up?