“Varsity Blues” is the latest film to potentially become a TV series, TheWrap has learned.
CMT has ordered a script of the project written W. Peter Iliff, who wrote the 1999 film starring James Van Der Beek.
The project hails from Paramount TV, the television arm of the studio that released the original film.
Van Der Beek starred as a backup quarterback who’s tasked with leading his high school football team to victory after the starting quarterback is injured. Butting heads with his onscreen father, Van Der Beek uttered the immortal and infamous line, “I don’t want your life” in a spectacular Southern accent.
The project pickup is the latest push from CMT into scripted programming. It most recently picked up a fifth season of musical drama “Nashville,” which was canceled by ABC after four seasons.
The network also recently premiered comedy “Still the King,” starring Billy Ray Cyrus.