Robert Rodriguez Joins Live Action JONNY QUEST

Warner Bros. is moving forward with the long-gestating Jonny Quest live-action adaptation, bringing in Robert Rodriguez to direct.

Rodriguez (Spy Kids, Once Upon a Time in Mexico) will co-write a new script with Terry Rossio (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Mask of Zorro), who’s producing for the studio. They’ll be rewriting from a script by Dan Mazeau. Dan Lin — who will be producing a new Inspector Gadget (and who’s the subject of a Godzilla lawsuit) — is also producing with Adrian Askarieh.

Jonny Quest was a Hanna-Barbera production that ran on ABC prime time in 1964, with Tim Matheson (Animal House, Wolf Lake, Burn Notice) voicing the titular character, Jonny, who shared adventures with his father, best friend Hadji, and bodyguard Race Bannon. Created and designed by Doug Wildey, the show lasted only one season due to high production costs.

The live action adaptation has been in the works since Warner Bros. acquired the Turner catalog, which contained the Hanna-Barbera lineup. When Ted Turner bought the library in the 1990s, Richard Donner (Superman) and Lauren Shuler Donner were set to head the production.

At one point, Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson were attached to an iteration to be directed by Peter Segal, but the project never got a green light. This particular version has been in development since 2007.

Jonny Quest has spawned several animated revivals and comic books, but this will be the first live action version. If it gets made.