Hollywood’s appetite for rebooting beloved franchises shows no signs of slowing, and the latest project to capture industry attention is a new take on Get Smart. According to multiple reports, comedian and writer John Mulaney is in early talks to lead the Warner Bros. reboot, stepping into the iconic role of Maxwell Smart. The news arrives as the studio looks to breathe fresh life into the spy spoof, which last hit theaters in 2008 with Steve Carell in the lead.
A Familiar Premise for a New Generation
The original 2008 film, directed by Peter Segal, introduced audiences to a hapless but endearing analyst thrust into field work. When the sinister KAOS organization attacks the U.S. intelligence agency CONTROL and compromises the identities of its secret agents, the Chief has no choice but to promote Maxwell Smart from his desk job to active duty. Smart’s partner is the seasoned and highly capable Agent 99, the only operative whose cover remains intact. The plot follows the mismatched duo as they attempt to foil KAOS’s ambitious plans for world domination, all while navigating their clashing personalities and Smart’s unorthodox methods.
The 2008 iteration boasted a star-studded cast, including Steve Carell as Smart, Anne Hathaway as Agent 99, Dwayne Johnson as Agent 23, Alan Arkin as The Chief, Terence Stamp as Siegfried, James Caan as The President, Bill Murray as Agent 13, and Patrick Warburton as Hymie. The film blended action, comedy, and thriller elements, earning a TMDb rating of 6.217 out of 10 and an IMDb score of 6.5 out of 10. While it was far from a critical darling, its commercial performance was respectable enough to keep the property alive in development circles for years.
Mulaney’s Comedy Pedigree and Fit for the Role
John Mulaney, best known for his sharp observational stand-up specials, writing stints on Saturday Night Live, and his work as a creator and star of the Netflix series Big Mouth, brings a distinctly different comedic energy than Carell. Mulaney’s persona often skews anxious, neurotic, and verbally agile - traits that could align well with the bumbling yet oddly brilliant Maxwell Smart character, who originated on television in the 1960s.
While the deal is not yet finalized, sources indicate that Warner Bros. is keen to attach Mulaney as both star and potential creative voice, possibly shaping the script to suit his sensibilities. The studio has been developing a Get Smart reboot for several years, cycling through different writers and directors, but this marks the most concrete casting news to emerge. Representatives for both the studio and Mulaney have declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations.
Reboot History and Industry Context
The Get Smart franchise began as a television series created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, running from 1965 to 1970 on NBC and later CBS. The show satirized the spy genre, particularly the James Bond films, through the exploits of Agent 86, Maxwell Smart, who stumbled his way through missions with gadgets like the infamous shoe phone. The 2008 feature was itself a reboot, updating the characters for a modern audience while keeping the core dynamic intact.
Since then, Hollywood has repeatedly mined vaulted IP for fresh starts, and Get Smart has remained a candidate for resurrection. A sequel to the 2008 film was discussed but never materialized, and a separate television reboot attempt fizzled out in the early 2010s. The current project signals another attempt to recapture the mix of espionage and comedy that made the original so memorable.
What This Could Mean for the Film
If Mulaney signs on, the reboot would likely lean harder into his particular brand of self-deprecating humor and rapid-fire dialogue, potentially moving away from the action-heavy approach of the 2008 version. The original runtime of 110 minutes balanced sequences of physical comedy with genuine set pieces, a formula that could be adjusted to highlight Mulaney’s verbal wit.
There is also the question of who might join him as Agent 99, a role that Hathaway filled with poise and sharp timing. Casting for that part, as well as for the Chief and other key figures, has not yet been publicly discussed. Directorial attachment also remains unknown, leaving the project in its formative stages.
The entertainment industry has watched with curiosity as Warner Bros. navigates its slate of reboots and revivals under new leadership. A Get Smart film with Mulaney would represent a bet on intellectual property with built-in recognition, paired with a star whose recent theatrical ventures have drawn audiences. Mulaney’s voice acting in animated features like the Spider-Verse series has expanded his reach beyond stand-up, but a live-action lead role in a major studio comedy would mark a significant step in his film career.
Looking Ahead
Talks are described as preliminary, and no start date for production has been announced. Given the early stage of negotiations, several factors could still alter the trajectory, including scheduling conflicts and script development. However, the pairing of a beloved comedic property with one of the most distinctive comedic voices working today has generated genuine buzz among fans of both Mulaney and the original series.
For now, audiences eager to see Mulaney tackle the role of Maxwell Smart will have to wait for official confirmation. In an era where nostalgia-driven projects dominate box office charts, another Get Smart attempt feels less like a question of if and more a matter of how it will land. With the right script and supporting cast, the reboot could finally give the franchise the second wind it has sought for nearly two decades.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
