“High Fidelity” may soon be making its way to your “Top Five Gender-Flipped Reboots” list. “Ugly Betty” writers Veronica West and Sarah Kucserka are adapting the 1995 Nick Hornby novel and 2000 John Cusack-starrer for television, Deadline reports. But this time the central character — a sad sack record store owner looking back on past relationships — will be a woman.
Penned by West and Kucserka, the new “High Fidelity” will use the film’s fourth wall-breaking convention in which the main character speaks directly to the camera. Described as “an optimistic-in-tone mixtape/diary rom-com … intended for family co-viewing,” the series is in early development at Disney’s upcoming direct-to-consumer service.
Midnight Radio and ABC Signature Studios are producing.
Cusack wrote the film version of “High Fidelity” with D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, and Scott Rosenberg. Stephen Frears (“Florence Foster Jenkins”) directed. Joan Cusack, Lili Taylor, Iben Hjejle, Lisa Bonet, and Jack Black co-starred. The highly quotable pic has become a cult classic since its release and is considered one of the best contemporary rom-coms.
West and Kucserka are currently writers and co-executive producers on the CBS legal dramedy “Bull.” The duo have also written for and produced series such as “Chicago Fire,” “State of Affairs,” “Hart of Dixie,” and “Brothers & Sisters.”