It’s alive! According to Deadline, another ofMel Brooks’s comedy classics is being zapped back to life in a way nobody saw coming. FX is nearing a pilot order for a new series based on 1974’sYoung Frankenstein, which will come from a trio behind another macabre satire series —What We Do in the Shadows. If the deal is finalized and a series is ordered,Stefani Robinsonwill serve as writer and showrunner, withTaika Waititidirecting the pilot, andGarrett Baschalso attached. All three will serve as executive producers alongside Brooks, who has given the project his blessing.
Robinson, Waititi, and Basch’s project will go under the nameVery Young Frankenstein, though further details of the reimagining are currently under wraps outside the fact that it will be inspired by Brook’sclassic horror parody. We do know, however, that it will feature several of Brooks’s collaborators working on the production.Kevin Salter, the legendary director’s producing partner who most recently joined him onHistory of the World, Part II, is also involved as an executive producer alongsideMichael Gruskoff, the producer behind the originalYoung Frankenstein. Casting hasn’t begun at this time, though a pilot order should get things moving quickly.
Although she’s mostly been active on the production end, Robinson has done her fair share of writing, with credits on eleven episodes of the acclaimedWhat We Do in the Shadows, which itself was based onthe feature written and directed by Waititi andJemaine Clement. TacklingYoung Frankensteinwill be an altogether different beast for the team, though, considering its status as one of Brook’s most iconic films andone of the greatest comedies everto grace the big screen. It centers on Frederick Frankenstein, pronounced “Fronkensteen” and played byGene Wilder, the grandson of Victor Frankenstein, who tries to distance himself from the mad scientist until he inherits his grandfather’s estate. With help from his new assistants, he starts going down a similar path, cobbling together a monster of his own to restore the Frankenstein name, only for hilarity to ensue when it busts out and brings chaos to Transylvania. It also featured a very strong cast around Wilder, includingMarty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn,Teri Garr, andPeter Boyleas the monster.
‘Young Frankenstein’ Is Just the Latest Mel Brooks Comedy to Make Its Return
Brooks has been busy finding ways to return to his old films lately. Back in 2023, he revisitedHistory of the Worldwith a series on Hulu, which featured a cavalcade of stars headed byNick Kroll,Wanda Sykes, andIkeBarinholtz. More recently, however, the focus has been onSpaceballs 2, whichis being written byJosh Gadand will see the nonagenarian Brooksreprise his role as the sage-like Yoda parody Yogurtin the sequel to his sci-fi satire. He’s not the only one returning, either.Rick Moranis,Bill Pullman, andDaphne Zunigaare set to reprise their rolesas Dark Helmet, Lone Starr, and Vespa, respectively, with some exciting newcomers includingKeke PalmerandLewis Pullman.
Very Young Frankensteinis still in the early stages at this time. Stay tuned here at Collider as the series finds its cast for the pilot.
Young Frankenstein
Source:Deadline
