Sam & Victor’s Day Off, theFerris Bueller’s Day Offspin-off that has been in development for several years, is still going ahead, according to a new update that has surfaced out of the recent merger between Paramount and Skydance. The film will focus on the two valets from the original cult comedy classic who “borrow” the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder that the titular truant leaves with them, taking it on a joyride across the city. The idea being that audiences will now see what they got up to on their “day off” from cleaning and parking cars.
The long-gestating Paramount-Skydance merger closed last week, prompting a fresh batch of updates for several franchises (includinga divisive move forTransformers) and a number of individual titles that were already in development prior to the two studios joining forces. Among them wasSam & Victor’s Day Off,with word coming viaDeadlinethat the project is moving forward and Ben Zazove and Evan Turner have now been enlisted to rewrite the script for theFerris Buellerspin-off, which comes nearly 40 years after the original film hit theaters.
Sam & Victor’s Day Offwas first announced to be in development for theParamount+streaming service in 2022. The project fell silent for a while, up until last year when it was reported thatDavid Katzenberghadsigned on to helm the feature, which was to be produced by Paul Young, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald, with Dina Hillier serving as an executive producer. Bill Posley was attached to write the script, but now Zazove and Turner, the duo behind the 2023 action comedyThe Out-Laws, are doing some revisions.
‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ Is Revving Up for a Spin-Off, but Does It Need One?
Ferris Bueller’s Day Offwas a huge success upon its release in 1986, both critically and commercially.Matthew Broderickfamously headlined the feature opposite Alan Ruck’s hopeless hypochondriac Cameron Fyre — who arguablydeserved better in life (and the film)– and Mia Sara’s ever-optimistic Sloane Peterson. The trio skip out on school and have the best day of their young lives filled with all sorts of activities, including attending a baseball game, visiting an art museum, enjoying some fine dining, and twisting and shouting at a parade.
The landmark comedy earned widespread acclaim for its humor, originality, and portrayal of teenage rebellion, which is reflected in its Rotten Tomatoes scores, earning 83% with critics and 92% with audiences. The film (and its glowing reviews)hold up to this day, but it remains to be seen if a spin-off could replicate the same success. Sequels and spin-offs can be a mixed bag, with some proving to be welcome new additions that build on the legacy of its predecessor and others falling short of the expectations set out by the film that came before. There is certainly an audience for aBuellerspin-off, but whether they want it is another matter.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
