Knight Rider 2000 is now available to stream on Netflix. The 1991 “made for TV” movie is a futuristic follow-up to the NBC show. Knight Rider ran on NBC from 1982-1986. David Hasselhoff starred as crime fighter Michael Knight and William Daniel lent his voice for talking car KITT. Edward Mulhare featured as Michael’s boss, Devon, in the show. Here’s the Netflix series synopsis for the series:
Injured in the line of duty, a cop reemerges with a new face and name, fighting crime for a clandestine organization with a supercharged talking car.
Left for dead but saved by a mystery benefactor, Michael Knight has a new face, a new mission and a new car: a Trans Am with a voice of its own.
Knight Rider synopsis via Netflix
Hasselhoff, Daniels and Mulhare all return in the movie. They are joined by Susan Norman, Carmen Argenziano and Mitch Pileggi.
After the series wrapped in 1986, Hasselhoff spent three years trying to appeal to the studio (Universal) and NBC to revive it. At the time, the Spongebob Squarepants actor was seeing success on another TV show, Baywatch. Ultimately, Hasselhoff got the Knight Rider movie he sought.
Knight Rider 2K
The movie, set decade in the future, has a retired Michael Knight brought back by Devon. In this future, guns are banned but a flurry of handgun killings has another supercar pitched to the local police force. Furthermore, the car is the Knight Industries 4000, a follow-up to the original KITT.
Here is the IMDB summary of Knight Rider 2000:
In the future, guns are banned and criminals are frozen for the duration of their sentences. A recent spate of killings involving handguns brings Michael Knight back to fight for justice, but he insists on the help of KITT, his artificially-intelligent car from decades ago. The only problem is that KITT has been deactivated.
IMDB
Eventually KITT is called into action as well. However, he has been dismantled and some of his memory chips have gone missing. It turns out that a police officer, wounded in the line of duty, had those chips implanted. Consequently, Norman’s cop has a personal connection with KITT.
Performances
Hasselhoff, Daniels and Mulhare all have the magic from the 1980s series. It’s wonderful to see what Hasselhoff can do in a serious, dramatic role. Pileggi is a standout as a villain released from a cryonic prison. Alan J. Levi directed the action. The director has a long resume in television, including Quantum Leap, Lois & Clark, NCIS and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
The ending of the film sets up a new series with Norman and Argenziano in roles similar to what Hasselhoff and Mulhare had in the original. Hasselhoff had been hoping for additional TV films.
The Future
While 2000 was not picked up for as series, the Knight Rider brand continued. Knight Rider 2010, another TV movie, was set in an apocalyptic future. 2010 is often described as “loosely based” on Knight Rider as there is little connection to the characters of the original.
Team Knight Rider was a one season syndicated series in 1997-1998. Furthermore, it took place “years after the adventures of Michael Knight and KITT”. This show had a team of AI powered cars, each with unique personalities and drivers. TKR is available to purchase on multiple platforms, include Amazon and Google TV.
The year 2008 saw Knight Rider return to NBC in series form after a pilot film was well received. A new KITT was voiced by Val Kilmer. This series had continuity with the original series. Hasselhoff’s Michael Knight has a cameo in the pilot. In addition, the original KITT is seen in a parts bin.
It seems there is always planning for another Knight Rider project. Hasselhoff most recently said “There is a reboot in the making. We’ll see what happens.”
