EXCLUSIVE: The Longest Yard is getting another set of downs.
Deadline hears that another remake of the film, which originally starred Burt Reynolds in 1974 and was remade starring Adam Sandler in 2005, is in the works at Paramount Pictures. Rodney Barnes, who was an exec producer and writer on HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, is writing.
It comes from Gunpowder & Sky, whose CEO Van Toffler was an exec producer on the 2005 version when he worked at then-MTV owner Viacom. Toffler is producing with former MTV Films boss David Gale, who reunited with Toffler at Gunpowder & Sky and who also exec produced the Sandler version.
The Longest Yard is a prison sports comedy film.
‘The Longest Yard,’ 1974
The 1974 original was based on a story by Al Ruddy, directed by Robert Aldrich and written by Tracy Keenan Wynn. It starred Reynolds as Paul “Wrecking” Crewe, a former star quarterback who is sentenced to 18 months in Citrus State Prison, where he puts together the Mean Machine team to play the guards’ team.
It was remade in 2005 by director Peter Segal and written Sheldon Turner. It starred Sandler as the washed-up quarterback, who puts together a team in prison in exchange for a reduced sentence. Chris Rock, James Cromwell, Nelly and William Fichtner also starred, as did Reynolds.
Both versions were released by Paramount.
‘The Longest Yard,’ 2005
In addition to Winning Time, Barnes has written and produced series such as The Boondocks, Everybody Hates Chris, Marvel’s Runaways, American Gods and Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
Barnes has a number of projects in different stages of development, including writing an adaptation of Chris Leslie-Hynan’s novel Ride Around Shining, which is in development with Jonah Hill’s Strong Baby for Netflix with LaKeith Stanfield attached to star; writing a miniseries based on the life of golf star Tiger Woods; and writing a feature for New Regency with Jordan Vogt-Roberts attached to direct.
Gunpowder & Sky is behind films including Elisabeth Moss’ Her Smell, Nick Offerman-starring Heart Beats Loud and Showtime’s Courtney B. Vance-led Heist 88 as well as music documentaries including Sheryl and Everybody’s Everything. Last year, it struck a multi-picture deal with MTV Entertainment Studios following its Comedy Central’s Hot Mess Holiday movie, starring Kal Penn.
Barnes is repped by UTA, Artists First, and attorney Darrell Miller at Fox Rothschild.