When Kenny Rogers was busy putting out Grammy-winning songs, he would try his hand at acting in a number of projects, including his hit TV film series The Gambler loosely based on the song of the same name and now Shout! Studios has begun development on a remake, according to Deadline.
RELATED: Misbehaviour: Shout! Studios Acquires Drama Starring Keira Knightley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw
After signing a worldwide distribution deal for 10 Rogers-starring films, including the Gambler franchise, Shout! Factory began developing an update of the property in which they will produce through their in-house original content unit Shout! Studios.
“As far as legacies go, The Gambler is a doozy,” Brent Haynes, Head of Original Content Development at Shout!, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to be working with Kenny’s estate on this series. This is the kind of nostalgic, feel-good storytelling that is built into Shout!’s DNA.”
No writer is currently attached to the potential series as Shout! is currently shopping the project to other networks and platforms outside of its own streaming service. The original film, released in 1980, saw rave reviews from critics and audiences and spawned a 14-year franchise that included four sequels. There were some talks in the early 2010s of Rogers possibly returning to the role for a new film, but given his bad knee and a decision to retire from show business in 2016, the project never came to fruition, with Rogers dying earlier this year at the age of 81.
RELATED: The Baccarat Machine: Awkwafina to Star as World’s Greatest Female Gambler
“Kenny Rogers captivated fans worldwide with his distinctive voice, heartfelt performances and storytelling,” Shout! Factory founders and CEOs Bob Emmer and Garson Foos said in a statement. “He was a unique, multi-talented artist. The Gambler movie series and his films have already proven to be highly popular with fans and viewers over the years. We’re thrilled and honored to bring these beloved films out through Shout!’s global entertainment distribution channels. We’re also honored and excited to develop a new series based on The Gambler intellectual property.“
In addition to the western franchise, Shout!’s multiyear deal with Vector Management includes the broadcast, streaming, VOD, home entertainment and theatrical rights to Coward of the County, Wild Horses, MacShayne: Winner Takes All and MacShayne: The Final Roll of the Dice, as well as the international rights to Rio Diablo.
