Get Smart Reboot
Comedian John Mulaney is in talks to star in a Get Smart reboot.
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Key Points
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The original series ran for 138 episodes, with its first four seasons airing on NBC and its final season on CBS.
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The series’ central premise paired Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 as operatives for the U.S. counterintelligence agency Control, which was locked in an ongoing battle with the villainous organization Kaos.
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A signature opening sequence showed Don Adams’ Maxwell Smart passing through a long series of locked barriers before entering a phone booth and dropping into Control headquarters.
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The 2008 film adaptation also featured Anne Hathaway as Agent 99, Alan Arkin as the Chief and Dwayne Johnson as Agent 23 alongside Steve Carell’s Smart.
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Mulaney is described as a four-time Emmy winner, and his other upcoming project is Madden, David O. Russell’s film starring Nicolas Cage as football coach and broadcaster John Madden.
John Mulaney is in early talks to star as Agent Maxwell Smart in Warner Bros.' upcoming reboot of Get Smart, the classic spy comedy that originally ran from 1965 to 1970 Empire Online. The project marks a shift from Steve Carell's 2008 film version, leveraging Mulaney's dry, self-aware comedic style. Seth Grahame-Smith is writing the screenplay, while producers Chuck Roven and Andrew Lazar—who worked on the 2008 adaptation—are attached to the film.
The original Get Smart series, created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, aired 138 episodes across five seasons and won seven Emmy Awards Empire Online. Don Adams starred as the bumbling Agent 86, paired with Agent 99 in their work for the U.S. counterintelligence agency Control. The 2008 Warner Bros. film with Carell and Anne Hathaway grossed roughly $230 million worldwide, establishing the franchise's commercial appeal.
The Original Series That Defined Spy Comedy
Get Smart debuted in 1965 as a parody of Cold War espionage films and James Bond thrillers. The show paired Agent Maxwell Smart with Agent 99 as they battled the criminal organization Kaos Empire Online. Don Adams won multiple Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the clumsy but lovable Maxwell Smart, making the character iconic across television history.
The series ran on NBC for its first four seasons before moving to CBS for its final year. A signature opening sequence showed Maxwell Smart navigating locked barriers and entering Control headquarters through a phone booth. This visual gag became instantly recognizable to audiences and helped define the show's comedic identity.
Why Mulaney Brings a Fresh Take to Maxwell Smart
John Mulaney's comedic style differs sharply from Steve Carell's physical, exaggerated approach in the 2008 film. Mulaney specializes in dry, cerebral humor and self-aware observations about absurdity Perth Now. His four Emmy wins demonstrate his ability to anchor projects with intelligent, narrative-driven comedy rather than slapstick antics.
The 44-year-old comic recently hosted Netflix's Everybody's Live with John Mulaney in 2025 Perth Now. Pairing his verbal wit with the Get Smart premise creates potential for a reboot that emphasizes comedic timing and dialogue over physical gags. This direction could attract audiences seeking smarter spy-comedy entertainment.
The 2008 Film Sets High Expectations for Revival
The previous Get Smart reboot starring Steve Carell grossed approximately $230 million worldwide, proving the franchise's commercial viability Female First. That film featured Anne Hathaway as Agent 99, Alan Arkin as the Chief, and Dwayne Johnson as Agent 23. The ensemble cast approach balanced star power with established characters from the original series.
Mulaney's upcoming reboot must replicate that financial success while offering something distinct from the Carell version. The involvement of returning producers Chuck Roven and Andrew Lazar suggests continuity with the 2008 film's vision. Seth Grahame-Smith's screenplay will determine whether this reboot refreshes the material or rehashes familiar jokes.
Mulaney's Growing Film Career Beyond Comedy
Beyond the Get Smart reboot, Mulaney is attached to Madden, a David O. Russell film starring Nicolas Cage as football coach and broadcaster John Madden Female First. This project demonstrates Mulaney's expansion into dramatic comedy roles alongside major Hollywood directors. His willingness to take on varied projects suggests ambition to build a film career beyond stand-up and television.
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