‘Manimal’ To Get Big-screen Treatment

‘Manimal’ To Get Big-screen Treatment, The ’80s relic about a man who changes himself into animals to fight crime was panned by critics. It came from the ’80s: ‘Manimal’ to get big screen treatment, Who says a TV show has to be well received in order to get the big screen treatment? Certainly not the folks at Sony Animation, who, according to The Hollywood Reporter, recently secured the cinematic rights to the short-lived and critically mauled ’80s relic “Manimal.”

Mani-what? “Manimal” (which would make for an awesome Burt Reynolds-endorsed cologne) was an action-drama that revolved around a dashing doctor (sadly not Burt Reynolds) who transformed into different animals (but mostly a panther) to help the police fight crime. Proving that even the American public has its limits, the show was canceled after just eight episodes.

But it seems that the concept of a man turning into beasts and birds to chase crooks was just too good for Hollywood to ignore. And even though Sony Animation grabbed the rights, the film (if it does see the light of day) will be live action with a healthy dose of CGI. Maybe something like “The Smurfs” only not so highbrow.

Embracing the “so bad it’s good” past of “Manimal” will go a long way with the show’s fans. And yes, they do exist. The Web is full of folks who look back fondly (really!) on the shape-shifting adventures of Dr. Jonathan Chase (played by Simon MacCorkindale). One commenter from TV.com puts it this way, “As a show about a man plus animal = manimal, it succeeds brilliantly.” Another writes on IMDb, “I remember when this show came on and I thought it was the greatest thing. Yes, some of it seemed very hokey, but it was a lot of fun.”