A new Buck Rogers remake is in the works. The swashbuckling sci-fi hero was first developed in the 1930s by Chicago publisher John F. Dille, and quickly rose to worldwide fame, becoming one of the most widely read comic strips of its time, with millions of readers following it daily in newspapers around the globe.
Over the years, Buck Rogers has been reimagined through multiple comic strips, a film serial, and both radio and television shows. Riding the wave of Star Wars‘ success in the late 1970s, a Buck Rogers TV show starring Gil Gerard aired on NBC for two seasons from 1979 to 1981.
Now, according to The Wrap, a Buck Rogers movie is in the works at Legendary with Deadpool & Wolverine writer Zeb Wells penning the latest draft of the screenplay, based on Philip Francis Nowlan’s 1928 novella Armageddon 2419 A.D., which first introduced the hero. The story follows a coal mine inspector who awakens from 500 years of suspended animation to discover he’s been thrust into a futuristic planetary war.
The story of Buck Rogers is basically Rip Van Winkle in the future, as a man from the present awakens 500 years later in a world completely transformed. This futuristic setting introduced many elements that would become hallmarks of modern science fiction, including ray guns, rocket ships, jetpacks, and laser beams.
Like Star Wars, Buck Rogers also became one of the first major merchandising sensations, inspiring a wide range of products from toys to clothing that have remained popular for decades.
On the other hand, Zeb Wells is an Emmy-winning writer, producer, and director on the Adult Swim animated comedy Robot Chicken, who also co-wrote Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), and he has written notable runs for Marvel Comics, including Amazing Spider-Man and New Mutants. Now, he will tackle the Buck Rogers movie for Legendary.
- Release Date
-
March 30, 1979
- Runtime
-
98minutes
- Director
-
Daniel Haller
- Writers
-
Glen A. Larson
