Fox orders pilot for TV series about re-enacting The Goonies

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

A sequel to Richard Donner's adventure-comedy THE GOONIES has been in some form of development for decades, and while we may never get to see the sequel materialize at this point, we may get to see the original film brought back to life in an unusual manner.

According to Variety, Fox has ordered a pilot for an as-yet-untitled project from The Bold Type creator Sarah Watson which follows a woman named Stella Cooper who returns to her distressed automotive hometown to substitute teach after failing to make it in New York and carrying a heavy secret. Once there, Stella finds "inspiration, hope, and ultimately salvation when she agrees to help three students who are pursuing their film-making dreams by putting on an impossibly ambitious shot-for-shot remake of one of the student’s favorite movies, THE GOONIES." Over the course of the season, the students passion for the film will inspire a town in desperate need of hope in a love letter to the power of cinema, storytelling and dreams. Watson will write and executive produce the pilot with Greg Mottola (SUPERBAD) set to direct and executive produce. GOONIES director Richard Donner is also onboard as an executive producer. It may not be the sequel that some have been hoping for, but this might be an more interesting return to the world of The Goonies.

Sean Astin, who played Mikey in the original film, has long been a champion of a sequel to THE GOONIES, even saying that it was a "100 percent mortal lock" when asked about it several years ago.

I have said and will always say, that it’s not a question of if, but rather of when the sequel gets made. The precise makeup of it, I have no idea. Whether I will be in it, no idea. Whether they would even want the original cast in it, no idea. But it doesn’t matter. It’s bigger, it’s actually bigger than everybody. It’s bigger than even Steven (Spielberg), who created it. It’s bigger than Richard Donner, who breathed such strong life into it. It’s now a part of American cultural lore, and the studio has a lot to gain from promoting it, so you can take it to the bank that people will get to enjoy it more.

"Goonies is pret-a-porter for a sequel, man," Astin continued. "It is ready to wear. I thought it would be a great animated series, then you could do all kinds of stuff, unencumbered from budget issues and that stuff. But people want it. People want to see it."