Tim Story
Tim Story

One of a handful of remakes/reboots/spin-offs that’s on “Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris’ to-do list is New Line Cinema’s previously-announced “Shaft” reboot, with a screenplay that will be penned by Barris and “The Goldbergs” executive producer Alex Barnow.

A reboot of 1970s screen hero has been in the works for some time; when Barris boarded the project in 2015, it was announced that this latest interpretation will have a more comedic tone to it, which probably shouldn’t be a surprise, given the resumes of both Barris and Barnow. As I recall, that piece of news was met with disdain from fans of the original that starred Richard Roundtree as the eponymous detective. Although we still don’t know what the plot for the upcoming reboot/remake will be, so we anything is possible at this point.

But yes, the black private dick that’s a sex machine to all the chicks will be making a comeback, possibly more comedic, at a theater near you, courtesy of New Line Cinema. And it’ll be directed by Tim Story, who’s been quite busy over the last 5 years (maybe more than ever) since the box office smash that was “Think Like a Man” in 2012. Most recently, he directed 2016’s “Ride Along 2” and a segment of Kevin Hart’s concert movie “What Now?” (also a 2016 release).




In addition to the upcoming “Shaft” reboot/remake, Story also has “Humbug” (a contemporary telling of the story of Scrooge starring Ice Cube), and “Ride Along 3” (also starring Ice Cube and the aforementioned Kevin Hart) on his plate.

No ETA on “Shaft” at this time. And no casting announcements either. Who would you like to see in the role, given what we know about it thus far – specifically, that it’ll have more of a comedic bent than a pure action-crime-drama? There’s certainly a growing list of capable young black actors to select from; I’ll leave it to you folks to come up with some appropriate choices for what could be a career-making role for some up-and-comer; especially if New Line plans to make a franchise out of this reboot.

Also, I assume that it will be set in the present-day, and not a period piece, with our hero still the coolest private detective around, who likes his women chic, his cars fast and his clothes expensive, and takes the fight to those lowlifes, scumballs and vigilantes who prey upon him, as well as those he cares about, and other decent, everyday people.

Recall that, in 2000, Samuel L. Jackson starred in a reboot of the franchise, as the nephew of the original John Shaft, from the initial 1970’s movies that starred Richard Roundtree.

Barris is certainly busy, maybe thanks to the success of “Black-ish” on ABC. He’s also scripting a remake of “White Men Can’t Jump,” which was announced earlier this week, among other projects on his to-do list.

Deadline was first to report the news of Tim Story’s attachment to direct the reboot/remake.