Pauls Reubens Gives an Update on the Judd Apatow 'Pee-wee' Movie

Friday, 24 June 2011 11:41 Written by Jordan DeSaulnier

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Pauls Reubens Gives an Update on the Judd Apatow 'Pee-wee' Movie

It is my firmly held belief that, like Batman, James Bond, or the crew of USS Enterprise, the character of Pee-wee Herman could capably support a seemingly endless franchise of cinematic adventures. After two films, the character laid dormant for years, but Pee-wee creator Paul Reubens recently dusted off his red bowtie and white shoes for a popular Broadway revival of Pee-wee's Playhouse that was also broadcast on HBO. None other than comedic uber-producer Judd Apatow is attached to produce a new Pee-wee film, and today Paul Reubens himself provided some news on the project, saying he and his co-writer just handed in a new draft of the screenplay.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter about his Emmy-nominated The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway, Reubens said,

Paul Rust and I just turned in a draft to Judd last week. He’s bringing such an interesting side to it. He’s constantly having us talk about and address the emotional core of Pee-wee Herman. It’s adding a dimension I never had before. Judd, if you’re reading this, I think it’s ready to green light!

Reubens' co-writer Paul Rust is himself an actor who had a small role as one of the titular Basterds in Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds and starred in the regrettable adaptation I Love You, Beth Cooper from director Chris Columbus.

Following the success of Tim Burton's directorial debut Pee-wee's big Adventure, the 1988 sequel Big Top Pee-wee and unrelated salaciousness effectively killed the potential for a glorious Pee-wee-centered series, but the character's recent resurgence and Apatow's clout could just bring Mr. Herman back to the big screen. No director has been specified for the film. Apatow just produced Bridesmaids and is preparing the film his next directorial project This is Forty with Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, and Megan Fox.

Just imagine all the adventures Pee-wee could have in an ongoing franchise. Pee-wee in Space, anyone? Pee-wee Goes Bananas? Die Hard Pee-wee? Pee-wee: First Class?