“Varsity Blues” is getting a modern update courtesy of Jeffrey Katzenberg’s short-form video service Quibi.
“Stuber” writer Tripper Clancy is writing the script for this new take on the 1999 high school film, which will be executive produced by the film’s original producers Mike Tollin and Tova Laiter. Tollin will executive produce alongside John Gatins and Peter Guber. The project comes from Tollin and Guber’s MSM and Paramount Television.
Anne Fletcher will direct. The film starred James Van Der Beek, Paul Walker and Scott Caan as Texas high school football players who deal with an overbearing and demanding coach (Jon Voight). “For all those who cheered Mox’s refrain, ‘I don’t want your life,’ as well as all those who never heard of the West Canaan Coyotes, we’re thrilled to bring Varsity Blues to Quibi and into the 21st century,” said Tollin.
Quibi has been on a development spree of late as it gears up for its 2020 launch. The service has already greenlit about two dozen shows from stars including Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Tyra Banks, Don Cheadle, Stephen Curry, Anna Kendrick, Idris Elba, Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers.
Founded by Katzenberg and Meg Whitman, Quibi closed a $1 billion round of funding in August from investors including as 21st Century Fox, Disney, NBCUniversal, Viacom and WarnerMedia. The service, which will focus on producing and distributing short-form content made for mobile, will launch with a two-tier pricing model: a $4.99 per month ad-supported offer and a $7.99 per month ad-free deal.
Whitman says the company has already sold $100 million worth of advertisements.