Forget sequels, remakes and superhero movies. Hollywood's newest trend is reviving dead TV shows. With "Arrested Development" and "The Killing" getting new seasons, and HBO ordering up a "Bored To Death" movie, now it's the boys of "Entourage" are set to actually appear on the big screen for the first time. And less than two years after the series signed off with constant chatter of followup movie, it's actually happening.
Deadline reports that Warner Bros. has given a green light to the project which will be written and directed by series creator Doug Ellin. Last fall, it was reported that the script was near completion, with the story apparently picking up six months after the series finale. “There are interesting developments about Ari as a studio head, and that’s still the first page for me," Ellin said at the time. "But foremost is the friendship between the guys who are still hanging out and going to fun parties, and it continues with the same characters.”
While a start date isn't locked down just yet, deals are being made with Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara and Jeremy Piven to reprise their roles as Vinnie, E, Johnny Drama, Turtle and Ari which is probably the best news — Piven aside — any of these guys have heard all day. But frankly, if there's no Rhys Coiro as Billy Walsh, this movie is dead to us.
Like many popular HBO shows, what started as a fun, sharp concept quickly became self-involved and ridiculous in the later seasons so we'll be curious if the movie can reignite that initial spark that made it a compelling litlte half hour look at Hollywood. But considering Ellin's comments that these are the same guys "hanging out and going to fun parties," part of us suspects Warner Bros. just wants something to replace "The Hangover" as that franchise wraps up this year.