True Lies: TV Reboot from James Cameron gets pilot order at CBS

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

A lot of people have been clamoring for a sequel to James Cameron's 1994 hit action-comedy, True Lies but it looks like fans will have to settle for an adaptation on the small screen. It has been announced that a television reboot is in the works at CBS and a pilot has been ordered at the network. The pilot comes from Burn Notice creator Matt Nix, McG, and Cameron himself.

The pilot was written by Nix and will be directed by McG, best known for his highly kinetic Charlie's Angels films. In the pilot, shocked to discover that her bland and unremarkable computer consultant husband is a skilled international spy, an unfulfilled suburban housewife is propelled into a life of danger and adventure when she's recruited to work alongside him to save the world as they try to revitalize their passionless marriage.

Apparently bringing True Lies to television has been a passion project for McG. The director began pursuing the idea in 2016 after he signed an overall deal with 20th TV. In 2017, a TV reboot from writer Marc Guggenheim sold to Fox with a put pilot commitment but the project didn't move beyond the script stage. McG soldiered on and continued to try to make the reboot happen which led to the director helming and executive producing 20th TV's series reboot of Turner & Hooch for Disney+ with Nix. The duo hit it off and teamed up on True Lies and that pitch has now landed at CBS.

1994's True Lies was directed by James Cameron and starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Art Malik, Bill Paxton, Tia Carrere, and Eliza Dushku. The film was a loose remake of the French comedy film La Totale and followed a U.S. government agent named Harry Tasker (Schwarzenegger), who balances his life as a spy and a loving husband and father. The film was well-received at the time of release, securing a 71% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing $146.2 million domestically. Worldwide totals brought its gross to $378.8 million on a $100 million budget while Jamie Lee Curtis went on to win the Golden Globe for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her scene-stealing turn as Harry's wife, Helen Tasker.

I have some concerns about this and the biggest one is that this pitch landed at CBS. I apologize to any fans of that network but the majority of their shows are bland and by the numbers and I would hate to see this concept go that route because there is some potential here. I hope that CBS tries to break the mold with this reboot but I have my doubts.

Are YOU all-in for the True Lies TV reboot?