I Dream of Jeannie Film Adaptation Gets a Screenwriter

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:30:51 -0700

Screenwriter Rita Hsiao, writer of Disney's Mulan and rewriter of Enchanted and 13 Going on 30, has apparently written a screenplay about a new Jeannie for all of us to dream of. Her script for the big-screen adaptation of the 1960s series I Dream of Jeannie apparently wowed the producers, who had already seen five other attempts at Jeannie scripts.

Producer Sid Ganis has only glowing praise for Hsiao: "She has a terrific, bright, fresh approach to Jeannie's story, with a twist and turn along the way. She captured all of our imaginations in the telling of it."

This project has been rumbled about for years, but is only now getting serious attention. Ganis notes, "This is such a beloved and iconic character that it has to be told the right way. You have a loyalty to the character that has to exist, and sometimes it takes time to get there." Not to mention the fact that the new movie would probably need to be palatable to modern audiences, and I have to wonder how today's feminists might feel about this story following a woman who exists to serve her "master."

Anyway, I say sure, take your time. We don't want another Bewitched remake on our hands! Now, as for casting, I smell our next recast challenge coming on. . .

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