Since the original series ended in 1986, there have been multiple attempts to revive Knight Rider—with varying degrees of success. Here's a comprehensive look at what's been made and what's coming.
Current Owner: Universal Studios (through Universal Television)
Why Universal Owns It:
In approximately 2006, David Hasselhoff bought the rights to Knight Rider from Glen Larson for $1 million. According to Hasselhoff, he tried for about 10 years to get a project produced but couldn't get any "bites." Larson reportedly told him at the time: "I don't know if you're the right guy to make this."
The rights apparently lapsed or reverted, because by 2006, The Weinstein Company had acquired film rights from Larson. Hasselhoff no longer owns the rights but remains hopeful about the 2025 film and has said he'll support it if "they do it right."
A TV movie set in the year 2000, where Michael Knight is called back into action. KITT has been upgraded to the "Knight 4000" (a modified Dodge Stealth). However, the original KITT (the 2000) was disassembled and his "brain" was put into a classic Chevy. Features a villain played by Mitch Pileggi (later famous as Skinner's boss on The X-Files).
Not well-received, and Hasselhoff later said it "missed the point of the original series."
A second TV movie, but with little connection to the original. Generally considered even less successful than Knight Rider 2000.
A syndicated series set 10 years after the original, featuring a team of five agents and five talking vehicles. The vehicles included:
Lasted only one season (22 episodes). Widely considered a misfire that failed to capture the original's magic.
The most high-profile revival:
In 2016, Machinima, YOMYOMF, and NBCUniversal Brand Development announced a reboot with Justin Lin (Fast & Furious) producing and directing. The project never materialized and is likely cancelled.
August 2025: The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald—the creators of "Cobra Kai"—are in early talks to write, produce, and potentially direct a Knight Rider film for Universal Pictures.
Details:
This is part of Universal's broader strategy to develop classic TV properties for the big screen, similar to what they've done with other franchises.
| Year | Project | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Knight Rider 2000 | TV Movie | Set in year 2000, Knight 4000 |
| 1994 | Knight Rider 2010 | TV Movie | Generally disliked |
| 1997-98 | Team Knight Rider | TV Series | 22 episodes, 5 agents, 5 cars |
| 2008 | Knight Rider | TV Series | 17 episodes, Ford Mustang KITT |
| 2016 | (planned) | Digital Series | Cancelled |
| 2025 | (planned) | Feature Film | Cobra Kai creators attached |