‘Holes’ TV Series Not Moving Forward at Disney+
Disney+ has decided not to move forward with the TV adaptation of the beloved Louis Sachar novel “Holes”. The novel, which was published in 1998, won both a National Book Award and a Newbery Medal. The story follows a teenager named Stanley Yelnats, who is wrongly accused of a crime and sent to a juvenile detention camp called Camp Green Lake. While at the camp, Stanley uncovers a mysterious connection between the land and his own family. The 2003 film adaptation of the novel, directed by Andrew Davis, starred Shia LaBeouf in the lead role and received critical acclaim.
The new Disney+ pilot of “Holes” took a gender-bent approach, focusing on a teenage girl named Hayley instead of a boy. Shay Rudolph was set to play the lead role of Hayley, with Greg Kinnear cast as the warden of the detention camp. The ensemble cast also included Aidy Bryant, Noah Cottrell, and a group of talented young actors playing Hayley’s fellow campers at Camp Yucca.
The pilot episode of “Holes” had Alina Mankin as the writer, Liz Phang as the showrunner, and Jac Schaeffer as the director. Executive producers included Mankin, Phang, Drew Goddard, Sarah Esberg, and Mike Medavoy. The pilot was produced by Walden Media, the same production company behind the original film adaptation, with 20th Television serving as the studio.
Despite the initial excitement surrounding the pilot, Disney+ ultimately decided not to move forward with the series. Fans of the novel and the 2003 film will have to cherish the original adaptation, as this new TV adaptation will not be coming to the streaming platform.
