What’s the secret word boys and girls? NETFLIX!
Pee-Wee Herman is making another movie after more than 25 years. Pee-Wee was the creation of Paul Reubens whose act went on to become a superstar phenomenon in the 1980’s. Reubens created a personae totally unique in entertainment history. Pee-Wee was a man-child surrounded by all the gadgets and wonder that only a child’s imagination could dream up.
Reubens created the character in the late 1970’s when he was a member of the improv group, The Groundlings. He went on to have a successful adult-themed stage show and gained popularity on late night talk shows, such as David Letterman. The character found huge success when a young director named Tim Burton directed his first movie, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. The film was merely about Pee-Wee finding his lost bike, but went on to become a cult classic that is beloved to this day. Pee-Wee’s act was toned down for kids for the hit Saturday morning show Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, which ran for five years. Following a scandal with the real life actor, Pee-Wee was shelved for over a decade. However there has been a resurgance of the character in the past few years. Reubens brought the character back to stage and was even nominated for an Emmy, for the Pee-Wee Show on Broadway which aired on HBO in 2011.
Pee-Wee is coming back and this time he has another big-time director backing his film. According to The Wrap, there is a deal in place for another adventure with Pee-Wee.
While a Netflix spokesperson cautioned that there’s no deal in place yet, an individual close to the project told TheWrap “it moved to Netflix a gazillion months ago.”
The one-and-only Paul Reubens will return to reprise his beloved Pee-Wee character, and he also co-wrote the script with comedian Paul Rust. Apatow will produce via his Apatow Productions banner.
Judd Apatow has been attached to produce the next Pee-Wee movie for a couple of years, however it had been uncertain who would distribute the movie. If the deal goes through, it will give Reubens and whoever is chosen to direct, the latitude to go a little more adult and push the boundaries a bit more than in the past. It seems that Netflix is beginning to make a reputation as a place where corporate franchises can be a little more free.
Although the deal hasn’t closed, it is clear that it is in place. Netflix has been releasing more Pee-Wee material as late as last month. Big Top Pee-Wee, a Christmas special, and Pee-Wee’s Playhouse are currently available to stream. Clearly they are reinvigorating a fan base that would eat up new zany adventures from the guy with the red bowtie.
There will be a lot of follow up to this story including a director, movie title, and release date. We will be sure to bring you the latest on next his adventure.
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Source: The Wrap