A star ofFriday Night Lightsaddresses their potential return in the reboot series, and reveals that they almost turned the original show down. Inspired by the 1990 novel and 2004 movie adaptation of the same name, theFriday Night LightsTV series was developed by Peter Berg, and debuted on NBC in October 2006. The show was a success, running five seasons and 76 episodes, andFriday Night Lightsboasted an all-star cast, including Kyle Chandler, Michael B. Jordan, and Taylor Kitsch. But another star has opened up on their views on the upcoming remake.
PerParade,Connie Britton, who starred as Tami Taylor, high school faculty member and wife of coach Eric Taylor, in both the show and the original movie, said the new series isn’t really on her radar. She also mentioned how she almost turned down her role in the show due to her part in the movie being so small. Britton went on to reveal that Berg and writer/executive producer Jason Katims – who is set to serve as showrunner in the reboot – were instrumental in her accepting the role. Check out Britton’s comments below:
In the film, there was very little for me to do and even less so by the time it came out — whatever I had done was mostly on the cutting-room floor. And so when the TV show came around, I said, “No, thank you.” I was really hoping for something more for myself than playing sort of the fly-on-the-wall wife character in a football show.
[Berg was] very persuasive, I really have to say, I worked pretty tirelessly with Pete, but then also with Jason Katims, who came in to run the show, really sort of standing up for the woman’s voice in that community, in that world. [The reboot is] barely on my radar, [but I hope the new cast find a] sense of discovery there in terms of what they’re committing to and trying to accomplish.
What These Comments Mean For The Friday Night Lights Reboot
Britton’s comments show that she was frustrated by theFriday Night Lightsmovie underutilizing her character, to the point where she originally was opposed to a return in the TV series. However, it sounds like Berg and Katims were quick to make her aware of their plans for Tami as a character, and how she would be fleshed out and more compelling. They were ultimately able to convince Britton to reprise the role that earned her two Emmy nominations, andTami became one of the strong characters that were a key part of what madeFriday Night Lightssuch a successful show.
Britton’s Tami was one of the most interesting and complex characters, and the reboot will need similarly engaging characters to succeed.
However, Britton’s comments also show that she has little interest in theFriday Night Lightsreboot, andit would seem very unlikely that the actress would return for the upcoming series. It seems like theNashvillestar is happy with how she was able to revisit Tami in the original series and give the character the journey the movie denied her. But now that role is behind her, she seems to have very little motivation to follow developments with the reboot show. It is unclear whether any of the original cast will appear in the reboot, and the show will need to match the character development of the original.
Our Take On The Friday Night Lights Reboot
Katims' Involvement Could Help Ensure A Strong Show, But The Original’s Legacy Is Tough To Match
Friday Night Lightswas one of the best football movies of all time, and the TV show became one of the best small-screen adaptations, expanding on the story, its exploration of small-town Texas, and an ensemble of great characters. Britton’s Tami was one of the most interesting and complex characters, and the reboot will need similarly engaging characters to succeed. Katims' involvement as showrunner bodes well, and his positive working relationship with Britton means the actress appearing in theFriday Night Lightsreboot cannot be ruled out completely, even if it feels unlikely at this point.
Friday Night Lights
Cast
Based on the book of the same name, Friday Night Lights is a sports drama series that centers around the Dillon Panthers, a high school football team in Texas. The show focuses on the small town and the community they share, tackling major social and political issues and the players' challenges as they go through an increasingly difficult season.
