As you wish, The Goldbergs.
ABC's 1980-something comedy, based on the life of showrunner Adam F. Goldberg, is taking on The Princess Bride, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
In a sophomore season that has already featured a full-on Ferris Bueller take as well as smaller tributes to pop culture phenomenon including New Kids on the Block and more, super-fan Goldberg plotted a small tribute to one of his favorite movies. That all changed when Castle Rock, the production company that owns the film, gave Goldberg the keys to the kingdom.
Read more 'The Goldbergs': What It's Like Going Back to the '80s for 'Ferris Bueller'
"It wasn't supposed to be [a bigger storyline] but Castle Rock was very kind to give us all the footage for the show because they knew it and liked it," Goldberg told THR during a recent visit to the show's Culver City set. "What began as a little thing about Princess Bride, now that I had the footage, I had to do a whole thing."
The episode, which will likely air in April, won't be a full-on tribute like this season's Ferris Bueller tribute and season one's homage to The Goonies, Goldberg wasn't about to waste being offered footage from the cult classic starring Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin.
"It's so hard to get footage from these movies; you have to get cast approval and the studio has to sign off," Goldberg says of the process he's now very familiar with. "Because it's a smaller studio, they were willing to let me have a montage in the beginning of [the episode with] all Princess Bride stuff and have it be on the TV in the background, which will really help the episode."
The genesis of the episode will see young Adam (Sean Giambrone) desperate to remake Princess Bride with his friends — only smother mother Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) won't buy him the all-important sword (see video above) after fearing he'll poke his eyes out. Instead, Adam turns to dad Murray (Jeff Garlin) and convinces him that he wants to be a fencer. After going out and being stabbed once, Adam quits the sport — but keeps the sword. Only Murray insists he continue fencing in an attempt to bond with his youngest son.
"It's really Murray coming around and realizing that fencing isn't going to be 'their' thing," said Goldberg, who vowed the half-hour would be "really cute."
As is often the case on The Goldbergs, the story has its roots in Goldberg's childhood.
"I was so obsessed with that movie; I loved it so much that I even have a re-enactment I did of a radio play of the iocane powder scene [watch the original scene, above]. That's what I did whenever I loved a movie: I'd get together with my friends and play it out and re-enact it."
The news comes as The Goldbergs has become a top five comedy series among adults 18-49. With three days of delayed viewing, the March 4 installment was the No. 4 comedy for the week, behind only The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family and The Odd Couple for the week.
The Goldbergs airs Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. on ABC. New episodes return March 25.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit
