‘Jonny Quest’ on a mission to hit cinemas

Robert Rodriguez to turn popular animated series of 1960s into live-action form

Jonny Quest, one of the most popular animated series of yesteryear, is set to make a return, but not to television screens. It is set to be turned into a film, which will be reportedly helmed by Robert Rodriguez of Spy Kids fame, reported CNN. The movie will be based on a draft penned by Dave Mazeau, the writer behind Wrath of the Titans. Robert will rewrite the script alongside Pirates of the Carribean screenwriter Terry Rossio.

First produced in the 1960s, the show has been rebooted twice, once during the mid-1980s and then in the late 1990s. Although the show only lasted for one season during its final run, mainly due to high animation costs, it’s still considered as one of the greatest earlier examples of animated action-adventures. Although it’s still unknown who will play the role of Jonny, his friend Hadji and father Race Bannon, Twitter has lit up with suggestions, with many saying Idris Elba should be cast as the tough-guy Race.

According to entertainment website Cinema Blend, this is not the first instance that Jonny Quest has been considered to be turned into a film. Earlier, Warner Bros had gained the rights to the Hanna-Barbera collection as part of their deal with Peter Segal. Zac Efron and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson were to reportedly star as Jonny and Race Bannon, respectively, but nothing materialised.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2015.