Pointless research

It's amazing isn't it, how a subject that crops up in the pub, under the influence of BEER, can become almost obsessive?

I mentioned it a couple of days ago to colleagues and I've had a steady stream of suggestions* regularly ever since. So far we have managed to discount all except, possibly, Highlander.

The question is this, has there ever been a movie that has spawned a TV series directly based upon it, which itself has gone on to inspire a movie itself? The movies must be proper theatrical release movies, not TV movies or specials.

There are many examples of a movie inspiring a TV series (M*A*S*H springs to mind), and an increasing number of TV series that have influenced movies more or less based on them. But is there an example of the Movie - TV series - Movie sequence?

Now, before you jump right in, that old chestnut Star Trek is highly debatable. It started off as a TV series, spawned a cartoon, and inspired a movie sequence. But who would say that the Next Generation was inspired by the movies rather than the original TV show? It's arguable, but to me it doesn't fit.

Equally, regardless of quality, I think Highlander might. The movies spawned the TV series, and then the final movie was clearly inspired by the TV series since it featured both Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul despite the fact they were supposed to be the same character.

"Re-imaginings" do not count. These are, at best pointless remakes of an older film regardless of any intervening TV series.

Any candidates?


* No, not that sort of suggestion.

Pointless research

It's amazing isn't it, how a subject that crops up in the pub, under the influence of BEER, can become almost obsessive?

I mentioned it a couple of days ago to colleagues and I've had a steady stream of suggestions* regularly ever since. So far we have managed to discount all except, possibly, Highlander.

The question is this, has there ever been a movie that has spawned a TV series directly based upon it, which itself has gone on to inspire a movie itself? The movies must be proper theatrical release movies, not TV movies or specials.

There are many examples of a movie inspiring a TV series (M*A*S*H springs to mind), and an increasing number of TV series that have influenced movies more or less based on them. But is there an example of the Movie - TV series - Movie sequence?

Now, before you jump right in, that old chestnut Star Trek is highly debatable. It started off as a TV series, spawned a cartoon, and inspired a movie sequence. But who would say that the Next Generation was inspired by the movies rather than the original TV show? It's arguable, but to me it doesn't fit.

Equally, regardless of quality, I think Highlander might. The movies spawned the TV series, and then the final movie was clearly inspired by the TV series since it featured both Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul despite the fact they were supposed to be the same character.

"Re-imaginings" do not count. These are, at best pointless remakes of an older film regardless of any intervening TV series.

Any candidates?


* No, not that sort of suggestion.