Key and Peele are rebooting POLICE ACADEMY!

When it comes to reboots, the default response is almost always teeth gnashing followed by some choice four letter words. But 80’s comedy franchise Police Academy is one instance where most film fans probably won’t have any objections, due to the fact that after the first two films, the next five stunk worse than a hobo’s jockstrap. So if anybody can make the franchise funny again, I’m all for it. And judging by this latest bit of news, that may just be exactly what’s happening.

According to THR, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, the funnymen behind the sidesplitting comedy sketch show, Key and Peele, have been brought on as producers of a new planned reboot. I say “new”, because there have been several failed attempts at rebooting Police Academy over the years. The last go in 2012 had first-time director Scott Zabielski attached to helm, but this latest report says that he has left the project.

While there is no official mention of it whatsoever, the report does leave open the possibility for Key and Peele to also star in the comedy vehicle, as this movie will not be a remake of the classic original (so no whiteface needed), but rather more of a continuation set in the modern era.

The original 1984 film saw Steve Guttenberg’s Mahoney, Michael Winslow’s Jones and a bunch of other ill-equipped misfits joining the police force when entry requirements are dropped in the face of staff shortages, much to the ire of some loudmouthed senior officers who try to get this new band of underdogs kicked out. As expected, this ragtag group rises to the occasion and actually ends up saving their city, a feat that would be repeated several times throughout the franchise.

This reboot would see a new class of loser cops joining the academy, who once again have to prove themselves to the authorities, to hopefully hilarious result as returning original producer Paul Malansky explained to THR when he first joined the reboot project back in 2010.

“It’s going to be a new class. We hope to discover new talent and season it with great comedians. It’ll be anything but another movie with a numeral next to it. And we’ll most probably retain the wonderful musical theme.”

If Maslansky is anything like me, then 10 minutes after watching an episode of Brooklyn Nine Nine, he would be on the phone with Andy Samberg’s agent to get him on board – I know they say that they’re not redoing characters, but that’s your “Mahoney” right there. Just 1 minute after that Key and Peele would begin discussions about how they would then play every single other character in the movie. Especially one that happens to be both a law enforcement officer, and an illusionist.

Seriously though, the rapidly up and coming Key and Peele, whose show has just been renewed for a fourth season, and who will also be seen playing FBI partners on FX’s Fargo, definitely fits the mold for the type of humour that could work for this reboot. Getting them on board to produce and hopefully star is definitely a step in the right direction to not just getting this reboot done, but done well.

Last Updated: April 7, 2014