Of all the blaxploitation movies of the 1970s my favorite is Cooley High, perhaps because it doesn't resemble any other. Think of it as the African-American version of American Graffiti and you have a pretty good idea of the coming-of-age film's tone and charms. A remake has been bandied about through Hollywood for years, but Deadline reports another attempt is on the way, and considering the film takes place in Chicago it's no surprise one of the Windy City's favorite sons is behind it.
Common, a Chicago native, will team with Devon Franklin and Tony Krantz (son of the original film's producer) for a new take on Cooley High. The movie starred Glynn Turman and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as friends Preach and Cochise, and was one of the first to mix comedy and drama in an exploration of African-American youth in the 1960s. The film was highly influential in the world of cinema, TV, and hip-hop. An attempt to launch a TV series was eventually reworked into the show, What's Happening!! So you have Cooley High to thank for your love of Rerun.
Seth Rosenfeld (Baz Luhrmann's The Get Down) is penning the screenplay but so far no director has been found. Don't be surprised if someone familiar with Chi-Town is sought to take the helm.
