A reboot of the classic blaxploitation film Shaft is being developed over at New Line Cinemas according to Consequence of Sound, and we're nervously excited for all aspects of the film. Both the original film trio, starring Richard Roundtree, and the soundtrack, primarily organized by Issac Hayes, are equally iconic. We're eager to see the new version but at the same time hoping they don't muddy up the original's legacy (we acknowledge aren't too keen on the 2000 rendition starring Samuel L. Jackson).
Right now we have literally no details on what to expect from the new film, in terms of who will be playing the title character—John Shaft—or who will be handling the soundtrack or what plot line the film will follow. All we know is that John Davis has been assigned to produce, according to WeGotThisCovered. We know we'd like to see the original John Shaft as the protagonist, versus having the plot surround one of his relatives, as the 2000 sequel did. We'd also give out free high-fives for a Roundtree guest appearance.
MGM based the original film franchise around the novel of the same name by Ernest Tidyman. The first film was enough of a success to lead to sequels in the form of Shaft's Big Score during 1972 and Shaft in Africa in 1973. CBS attempted to launch a television version of the series, which fell flat. The original film is now featured in the US National Film Registry and Hayes' "Theme From Shaft" won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, as well as being listed at no. 38 on the American Film Institute's 100 Years...100 Songs list. The album version went on to become the best-selling record in the Stax label history.
