‘Friday Night Lights’ Remake Finds A New Director

The upcoming “Friday Night Lights” remake will be switching coaches behind the camera as John Erick Dowdle has been hired as the new director.

Dowdle is being brought in to replace David Gordon Green, who left the project. Dowdle's new job is to help adapt a new version of the property, which was initially based on a 1990 book. He will be helming the project with his brother, Drew, who will also rewrite the script by Green and Josh Parkinson, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on the book by H.G. Bissinger, the story followed the town of Odessa, Texas and it’s high school football team in 1988 as they fought for the state championship.

The book was previously adapted into a 2004 feature film by Peter Berg which received accolades, including being in the Top 10 list for the American Film Institute, and was also the basis of the successful TV series that aired from 2006 to 2011. The television series featured Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton. The feature film was also developed by Berg, who directed the pilot episode for the series while serving as executive producer. The show earned several awards and nominations, including an Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor for Chandler and a nomination for Britton. Despite not-so-stellar ratings, the TV series grew a dedicated fan base.

Dowdle has been better known for his horror films. Working with his brother as a producer and co-screenwriter, he has directed films such as “Quarantine,” “Devil,” “As Above, So Below,” and “No Escape.” The director also was involved with the miniseries “Waco,” which starred former “Friday Night Lights” TV star, Taylor Kitsch. He is currently slated to direct a film adaptation of Jack Kilburn’s novel “Afraid.” The Dowdle brothers are also attempting to adapt the story of newspaper columnist Dorothy Kilgallen as a film.