Like a bad student who just won’t pay attention, an attempt to remake 1987 Carl Reiner comedy** Summer School** has been cooling its heels in the development headmaster’s office since at least 2005. But now it might finally get a real shot at graduating to cinema college with some unlikely assistance: Adam Sandler.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Sandler’s Happy Madison company is in negotiations to help produce the film. There’s no sign that he wants to turn it into a possible starring vehicle yet, but he’d naturally have that option if he liked the eventual script.
The original featured Mark Harmon as an easy-going gym teacher named Freddy Shoop who has big plans for the summer. But his holiday dreams are ruined when he’s forced to cancel them to teach a bunch of misfits in an English class. Surprisingly, his laidback style actually helps to inspire his young charges.
Smurfs producer Jordan Kerner had been looking to re-invent the idea, twisting the central character into more of a hard-nosed educator who took on one mischievous student. And, more recently, writer-producers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman were involved. But neither version came to fruition and now Paramount will be hoping that Sandler can make it happen.
As for the man himself, he’s just swept the Razzies for one-two stinker punch **Just Go With It **and Jack And Jill, but he’s still a box office force to be reckoned with…