Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 27, 2025 · Entertainment

Knight Rider Reboot: David Hasselhoff's Iconic Show Returns!

The trio who revived the Karate Kid franchise into the Netflix hit Cobra Kai are looking to bring their magic to another dormant 1980s brand: Knight Rider. David Hasselhoff and Kitt pictured

Knight Rider Revival: Cobra Kai Creators Set to Bring Back Beloved 80s Franchise

Get ready for some serious nostalgia! The trio behind the wildly popular Netflix hit Cobra Kai, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, are reportedly in talks to breathe new life into another iconic 80s brand: Knight Rider. Insiders close to the project have confirmed that the writers are negotiating with producers to create a modern adaptation of the classic series, which originally aired from 1982 to 1986 on NBC.

The news has left fans of the original show buzzing with excitement, and for good reason. The 80s series, created by Glen A. Larson, starred David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight, a lone crime-fighter who fought against evil alongside his trusty, artificially intelligent supercar KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand). With its mix of action, adventure, and high-tech gadgetry, the show was a staple of 80s pop culture, and its legacy has endured even after it went off the air.

Josh Heald, Hayden Schlossberg and Jon Hurwitz are negotiating to create a modern adaptation of the series Knight Rider. Pictured in Newport Beach, California in June

But here's the juicy part: according to sources close to the project, Heald, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg are not only writing the screenplay for the reboot, but Schlossberg is also set to direct if the project gets the green light. This is huge news, especially considering the trio's track record with Cobra Kai, which revitalized the careers of Ralph Macchio and William Zabka and racked up 11 Primetime Emmy nominations in the process.

As for David Hasselhoff, who played Michael Knight in the original series, it remains unclear whether he'll be involved in the reboot. In a 2012 interview with The Hollywood Reporter (now known as The Scholarly Note), Hasselhoff expressed his reservations about revisiting the franchise unless it stuck closely to its nostalgic roots. "If you don't [make it retro], it's not gonna be Knight Rider," he said.

But it seems that Hasselhoff may not have a say in the matter, at least not yet. The Scholarly Note has learned that Heald, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg are set to produce the adaptation through their company, Counterbalance Entertainment, alongside producers Kelly McCormick and David Leitch of 87North and Gary Barber and Chris Stone of Spyglass.

KITT has been described as a his virtually indestructible and artificially intelligent supercar

The project is still in its early stages, with plot details being kept under wraps. But rest assured that fans will be thrilled to see KITT back on our screens, maybe even in a more high-tech, sleeker guise. After all, as the logline for the reboot suggests, "the adventures of lone crime-fighter, Michael Knight" are far from over.

This isn't the first attempt to revive the Knight Rider franchise, however. The series has been reimagined before, with two movies (Knight Rider 2000 and Knight Rider 2010) and a TV show (Team Knight Rider) all hitting the airwaves in the 90s. But this time around, it seems that the creators are taking a more serious approach, aiming to recapture the magic of the original series while also bringing it firmly into the modern era.

So, what can fans expect from this new iteration? Will KITT be getting an upgrade, perhaps with some advanced AI capabilities or even self-driving features? And will Michael Knight still be fighting crime as a lone wolf, or will he have a team behind him to support his high-tech antics?

Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: the revival of Knight Rider is already generating plenty of buzz in Hollywood. With Heald, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg at the helm, fans can expect something big – and we can't wait to see what this new iteration has in store.

Sources:

  • The Scholarly Note
  • Entertainment Weekly