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Have you ever come out of a movie theater wanting more? If only the writers and producers could explore the plot and characters in greater detail. There are hurdles involved in turning a movie into a TV series, but nothing is impossible if there’s an audience begging for it. The shift from the movies to TV (and vice versa) is not unheard of. Some of the transitions from big to little screen have been highly successful. Here are 9 movies we would love to see further explored as TV series.

1. The Royal Tenenbaums Would Make a Great TV Show

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

This movie is remembered for its unique dialog, memorable characters and interesting storyline. The movie’s plot revolved around the return of patriarch “Royal” and his revelation about his battle with cancer. A series with a prequel set before the return of Royal would be a welcome addition to our daily dose of TV.

2. Ghostbusters The Series

Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters (1984)

One film with definite episodic potential is Ghostbusters, simply because it is impossible to run out of ghost plots. Indeed, it would be interesting to see the team catch a series of ghosts in a buildup to a mega ghost -catching season finale. Will it grab eyeballs? Well, Ghostbusters III is in the works, so a TV spin-off isn’t out of the question.

3. Looper, The Sci-Fi TV Drama

Looper (2012)
Looper (2012)

Any film that gets the sci-fi formula of time travel and “looping” right surely has plenty of potential for becoming a popular TV series. In the case of Looper, there could be endless ways in which the “forces that were” and the “forces that be” collide to complicate matters. Add to it a rich narrative and characters, and you have the perfect formula for a hit TV series.

4. Watch Mean Girls Weekly on TV

Mean Girls (2004)
Mean Girls (2004)

The movie that gave Lindsay Lohan a massive fan base could be turned into a TV series without difficulty. High school romantic dramas are amongst the most popular genres of TV series out there. We think a TV adaptation of the exploits of Regina and Cady is long overdue.

5. The Incredibles As a Cartoon

The Incredibles (2004)
The Incredibles (2004)

It won’t take much to turn The Incredibles into a TV series. Just take up the story a few years into the future, with Dash and Violet as the central adult characters. Conversely, the producers of the TV show could simply pick up where the movie left off. Either way, if the folks in the scriptwriting department are anywhere as good as those who wrote the movie, we can expect a TV adaptation of the popular animated film to become an instant hit.

6. The Silence of The Lambs, The Next CSI

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

One of the most famous villains on the silver screen could become the counsel for an FBI special team that hunts for serial killers. The twist perhaps could be his escape at the end of the season, or something similarly dramatic. Somebody greenlight an adaption of one of the most disturbing movies ever made. (Update: Hannibal aired in 2013, a prequel to the movie,featuring the cannibalistic Mr. Lecter working with the FBI).

7. The Indiana Jones Franchise on TV

The Indiana Jones franchise (1981-2008)
The Indiana Jones franchise (1981-2008)

The original archaeological adventure franchise (setting the stage for Lara Croft), Indiana Jones’ can easily be transformed into a series that draws on the existence of a large fan base. If there was any doubt as to whether the franchise is relevant anymore, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull received a very warm welcome at the box office. Pulling off this level of action-adventure on a TV budget might be an issue, however.

8. The Matrix on the Small Screen

The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix (1999)

If there is one benefit that any TV series adaptation has over the original film, it is that the former can explore complex concepts at a comfortable pace. Neo and his journey in the Matrix is certainly complex. We think an episodic narrative will be far better suited to the intricacies of the plot than a possible movie sequel.

9. X-Men The Series

X-Men (2001)
X-Men (2001)

If there is one superhero TV series we’d like to see on our HD TVs it is X-Men. However, superhero TV series never seem to be as popular as the movie versions. However, with the humble TV now boasting of high resolution and 3D capabilities, we believe the time has come for the film to get its TV time.


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