According to Deadline, Dear White People creator Justin Simien has officially signed on to adapt and direct Paramount+’s forthcoming Flashdance reboot series, based on the 1983 Jennifer Beals-led blockbuster hit romantic drama film. The project was first announced over a year ago, right before CBS All Access was rebranded as Paramount+.
Simien is currently working on Disney’s upcoming live-action horror comedy Haunted Mansion, starring Tiffany Haddish, Rosario Dawson, Danny DeVito, and more. It is based on the popular Disneyland theme park attraction.
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The Flashdance reboot is expected to feature a new take on the classic film which will center around a young Black woman with ballet dreams and a strip club reality who struggles to find her place in the world while navigating romance, money, art, friendship and how to love herself.
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The original 1983 film was helmed by Fatal Attraction director Adrian Lyne from a script written by Tom Hedley and Joe Eszterhas. Despite receiving negative reviews from critics, the film had still become a surprise box-office success with a gross of over $200 million worldwide, making it the third highest-grossing film of that year. Flashdance was also lead star Jennifer Beals’ first major movie which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
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The reboot will be penned by Tracy McMillan with the original film’s associate producer Lynda Obst attached to serve as an executive producer. On top of executive producing, Angela Robinson has also signed on to direct the pilot as part of her overall deal with Paramount Television Studios.
