NBC is moving ahead with its Problem Child reboot.
The network on Thursday handed out a pilot order to the comedy inspired by the 1990 John Ritter film of the same name, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
From writer Scot Armstrong (The Hangover II, Old School, Road Trip), the half-hour single-camera comedy is described as a family show about the cast-and-mouse game between a set of parents and their brilliant but mischievous child.
The comedy, which landed at the network in September with a script order, will be executive produced by Armstrong, Peter Traugott and Rachel Kaplan via their Universal Television-based TBD Productions. Imagine Television's Brian Grazer, who produced the original Universal Pictures film written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, will also be credited as an EP.
Read more TV Pilots 2015: The Complete Guide
Problem Child spawned feature spinoffs in 1991 and 1995 as well as an animated series that aired on USA Network for two seasons in 1993 and 1994. The film was one of a long roster of movies to be developed as potential TV series this season as broadcast networks look to cut through the clutter with known brands and proven titles. Key to their success is having the original producers involved in some capacity, which Grazer fulfills with Problem Child.
For Traugott and Kaplan, this marks the duo's second pilot order of the season. It joins Fox family comedy 48 Hours 'Til Monday.
Overall, Problem Child becomes the fourth film-to-TV take to earn a pilot order this season and first at NBC. CBS has Rush Hour and Limitless, while Fox has Minority Report, with original producers involved in all of them.
This marks the second pilot season in a row that NBC has looked to a Universal feature for comedy. Last year, the network went to pilot on a remake of Tom Hanks and Shelley Long's The Money Pit, and ultimately pushed the multicamera comedy after problems finding a lead.
Overall, Problem Child is NBC's 12th comedy pilot pickup of the season, off six from a year ago. It comes as NBC currently has a similarly themed remake of About a Boy on its schedule from Parenthood producer Jason Katims.
Armstrong, meanwhile, also is an EP on USA Network comedy Playing House, which was recently renewed for a second season.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit
