The Evans family is finally going to Hollywood. Good Times, CBS’s 1970’s sitcom about a Black family scratching and surviving in Chicago housing project is getting made into a feature film.
Deadline reports that Sony Pictures and Scott Rudin will be producing the movie while Phil Johnston (Wreck-It Ralph, Cedar Rapids) will write the script. Here is where we must point out the Johnston is a white guy. However, if it makes any difference, the original script writers of the television series where also white.
Interestingly, the movie will not be a modern take on the TV show. Instead, it will be set in the 1960’s, which should make for some fiery content considering it potentially places the Evan’s family right in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement.
The original sitcom ran from 1974 to 1979 and featured classic characters like Jimmie Walker’s “James ‘J.J.’ Evans,” his sister “Thelma” (played by Bern Nadette Stanis) and the family matriarch, “Florida Evans” (portrayed by the late, great Esther Rolle).
Yes, we are including Florida’s famous “Damn, damn, damn” scene below. We know you were thinking about it, too. Also, never forget that Rolle and John Amos (“James Evans”) had serious issues with the negative stereotypes that Walker’s character was pandering to due to J.J. and his “Dyn-o-mite!” catchphrase’s breakout popularity.
Let us know what you think about Good Times heading to the big screen in the comments.
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Photo: CBS
