Hooters The Movie: Origin Story of the Chicken Wing Empire in Development
Hooters: The Movie is officially in development, bringing the origin story of the famous chicken-wing chain to the big screen. According to Deadline, the independent film focuses on founders Ted and Lenny, two Iowa friends whose spontaneous road trip to Florida accidentally launched a national restaurant empire threatened by the federal government.
The Origin Story Behind the Independent Production
The film project chronicles real-life events that began when co-founder Ted spotted Diane in a spring break commercial, prompting a journey to Clearwater Beach, Florida. Diane ultimately became the very first Hooters Girl, anchoring a brand that opened its original location in 1983 in the Tampa/Clearwater area. According to reporting from Deadline, the feature is independently produced by the chain’s original founding partners. Production is targeted to begin in November in the Tampa and Clearwater region.
Behind the Camera and Casting Strategy
The creative team driving the project includes Emmy-nominated filmmaker Jon Rosenbaum, who is directing off a screenplay written by Ed Droste, Phil Olson, and Chuck Melcher. Rosenbaum’s past directing credits include Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp and Benchwarmers 2: Breaking Balls. Casting for the feature is currently underway, led by casting directors Lisa London and Catherine Stroud of London/Stroud Casting.
Co-founder and producer Ed Droste spoke to Deadline about the tone of the upcoming project: “I think people are going to enjoy watching how we were really just some guys who didn’t know what we were doing, but had a great time doing it. There’s a lot of drama, but a lot of heart and fun too. And of course, our world-famous Hooters Girls are the real stars. For over 40 years Hooters has been America’s oasis in good times and bad. It’s time to deliver a taste of our big-hearted culture and famous humor to the world.”
Director Jon Rosenbaum added context regarding the narrative trajectory to Deadline: “From the moment I first learned the Hooters origin story, I knew it would make an incredible movie. It’s the perfect combination of a hilarious buddy comedy and an inspiring biopic for a beloved American brand: Two lifelong friends with no idea what they’re getting themselves into, a crazy idea they’re willing to bet everything on, and a wild journey that culminates in the creation of something bigger than they could ever have imagined.”
The Corporate Trend of Brand Biopics
This project joins a growing Hollywood trend of feature films centered on the creation of everyday consumer products and corporate brands, following previous cinematic treatments given to items like BlackBerry and Hot Cheetos.
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