Zorro Reboot Series From Robert Rodriguez Gets New Writer

John Hlavin is the latest behind-the-scenes addition to the upcoming Zorro reboot. The show comes from director Robert Rodriguez and his sister Rebecca Rodriguez, working with producers Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens. Hlavin and Rebecca Rodriguez will join Sean Tetra in writing the show. 

The Zorro reboot series will focus on the daughter of the original masked sword fighter taking up her father’s mantle. Years after the death of her father, she takes his name and disguise to fight against wealthy oppressors trying to control Austin Texas. It seems the series will deviate heavily from the original Johnston McCulley stories. 

While the Zorro reboot finally seems to be ramping up for pre-production, the project has had a long and winding road.

The show was first pitched to NBC in 2020 with Alfredo Barrios Jr. and Sofia Vergara involved. Then, in 2022, it was pitched to The CW without Vergara’s involvement before moving on to its current iteration at CBS. 

Robert Rodriguez was also involved in the 1998 Zorro reboot as a producer which is part of why the series is so highly anticipated. That movie, which starred Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones was a hit at the box office, earning $250 million and spawning a sequel.

While the sequel didn’t fare as well as its predecessor, it still earned a respectable $142.4 million on a $65 million budget. 

The Robert Rodriguez version isn’t the only modern Zorro reboot around, with the IP having recent international success.

A French version of the character played by Jean Dujardin appeared in a Paramount+ series in September. Back in January, a Spanish series also based on the character premiered on Prime Video starring Miguel Ángel Bernardeau Duato. 

Another Hollywood Zorro reboot has also been in development since 2021. That version, which is being developed as a Disney+ show, is being produced by Wilmer Valderrama who will also star as the titular swordsman. Unlike the gender-swapped Rodriguez version, Valderrama’s take seems to be a much more straightforward adaptation of the source material, following Diego De La Vega’s vigilante actions in Los Angeles. 

With so many Zorro reboots from around the world, it seems the character is having a bit of a renaissance. Coupled with the successful modern take on Lupin, it may be part of a larger revival of pulp heroes in popular culture. As the modern superhero craze is dying down, it could be the perfect time for these older characters to once again step into the spotlight. 

John Hlavin, whose recent show The Man Who Fell to Earth was a critical darling, is a great addition to the Zorro reboot. Even with so much talent behind the show, it’s probably too early to get excited, as CBS could still pull the plug before filming even begins. Still, with a fresh take on the classic character and a great creative team, it has the chance to be something special. 

Source: Deadline