John Mulaney Is in Discussions to Play Maxwell Smart as Warner Bros. Reimagines the Classic Mel Brooks and Buck Henry Spy Comedy
Time to unbox the famous shoe phone. Warner Bros. readies a new reboot of the classic spy story, Get Smart. In this version, comedian and actor John Mulaney may be the next Maxwell Smart.
According to Deadline, Mulaney is in discussions to step into the classic spy role. Although the film is in early development, the project has Seth Grahame-Smith (Now You See Me: Now You Don't) on board as the screenwriter and Charles Roven and Andrew Lazar as producers.
Get Smart was originally an NBC comedy series created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. Responding to the popularity of James Bond films, the 1960s series featured Don Adams as the super-secret agent Maxwell Smart. The television show was more satirical humor than deceptive spy games. Over its run, the show won several Emmys.
Mulaney's satirical style fits well into the Get Smart genre.
With Mel Brooks' humor fueling the dialogue, the show became known for its popular catchphrases. For today's generation, they might not know that "would you believe" and "sorry about that, Chief" came from the classic comedy. The series' opening sequence remains an iconic piece of television history.
Over the years, the original characters and concept have had several reboots. In 2008, a Get Smart movie starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway hit theaters. While it earned over $230 million worldwide, the film received mixed reviews. Many people appreciated Carell's take on the secret agent, but some of the tropes missed the mark.
For this Warner Bros. reboot, the production looks to capitalize on Mulaney's surging popularity. His current tour continues to bring him to venues across the country, and his upcoming Mulaney Takes Manhattan New York shows bring his comedy to several of the city's best-known stages.
In addition to his stage comedy, the Emmy Award-winning former Saturday Night Live writer and comedian has received recent praise for his role in The Bear. Also, he will appear in the upcoming John Madden biopic, Madden.
Casting Mulaney in the Maxwell Smart role is smart for Warner Bros. Not only does the entertainer add buzz to the project, but Mulaney's satirical style also fits well into the Get Smart genre. People can hear him voice the classic line, "and loving it," or dropping from that "phone booth" into CONTROL headquarters. Although he might not have that super-suave secret agent vibe, he has impeccable comedic timing and has just the right amount of quirky sophistication.
While Mulaney's deal is still in negotiations, it will be interesting to see who will be his "Agent 99." The female lead's casting is just as important as the secret agent role. Spy movie fans know that the woman behind the man is often the "secret" to success.
Will Mulaney answer the call and star in this new version of Get Smart? That mystery is still waiting to be solved.
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