T.J. Hooker Headed To The Big Screen

The William Shatner (James T. Kirk) cop show T.J. Hooker will be remade as a film in which Shatner might end up playing the father of the character he originally played in the 1980s.

Variety reported yesterday that Chuck Russell, who directed The Mask and The Scorpion King, has signed on to helm the remake. The story for the film will be written by Brent Maddock and S.S. Wilson, while original series creator Rick Husky will help oversee the project.

T.J. Hooker starred Shatner as a tough patrol sergeant determined to lock up the kind of criminals who were responsible for the death of his partner. The show ran for five seasons between 1982 and 1986, first on ABC and then for a final year on CBS. Shatner's role in the series came as part of the career renaissance he was enjoying following the release of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, after the long dry spell he found himself in during the 1970s.

According to Variety, the film will focus "on the relationship between the title character and his father." With Shatner now being 27 years older than he was when the series originally debuted, the role of the father would be an excellent fit for him, should he choose to get involved.

For the original announcement from Variety, please follow this link.