"Hey, let’s turn that movie into a TV show," is a sentiment echoing routinely in the halls of studios around Hollywood, but one filmmaker isn’t having it. News broke yesterday that NBC is developing a series based on the ’80s classic "Say Anything…," but Cameron Crowe isn’t about to raise a boombox over his head and celebrate.
Regarding the announcement of a "Say Anything" tv show… @JohnCusack, @IoneSkye1 and I have no involvement… except in trying to stop it.
— Cameron Crowe (@CameronCrowe) October 7, 2014
Technically NBC and 20th Century Fox TV have every legal right to move ahead with the show. They don’t need Crowe’s approval. That said, this isn’t the kind of project you want to keep moving if the man who created it is already actively speaking out against it, and doing what he can to prevent it from happening.
In case you are wondering what a "Say Anything…" show will involve, Justin Adler ("Better Off Ted") is penning a script that is set ten years after the events of the movie (so the late ’90s, which is actually kind of a great idea—just think of the music possibilities alone). Lloyd has been dumped by Diane, but is surprised when she returns home, inspiring him to turn his life around. Again, not a horrible concept, and it seems respectful to the source, except for the fact that efforts to flag Crowe seemed to fail.
Thoughts? Would you watch a Crowe approved "Say Anything…" series? Let us know below. [Deadline]
Update: Success! 20th Century Fox has halted development of "Say Anything…"