‘Varsity Blues’ Revival in the Works at Quibi

Upcoming Quibi, the streaming app from Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman, has put in development Varsity Blues, a modern take on the 1999 movie, with the film’s original producers Mike Tollin and Tova Laiter attached. The project comes from Tollin and Peter Guber’s MSM and Paramount Television.

Written by Tripper Clancy, “Varsity Blues”will follow a high school football team in West Canaan, Texas, and their abusive coach. James Van Der Beek (“Dawson’s Creek”) played Jonathan Moxon in the 1999 film, who faced challenges dealing with his coach and his football-obsessed dad.

Said Mike Tollin, “For all those who cheered Mox’s refrain, ‘I don’t want your life,’ as well as all those who never heard of the West Canaan Coyotes, we’re thrilled to bring Varsity Blues to Quibi and into the 21st century!”

Plans are for Quibi to launch in spring, 2020.

Cable net CMT had spearheaded a “Varsity Blues” reboot in 2016, but never moved forward.