A new TV series adaptation of Louis Sachar’sHolesis in development at Disney+, marking the beloved book’s return to screens. The upcoming series will reimagine the 1998 award-winning novel, which was previously adapted into a feature-length film by Disney in 2003. A well-reviewed moderate financial success, the moviestarred Shia LaBeouf, Khleo Thomas, Jon Voight, Patricia Arquette, Eartha Kitt, and Sigourney Weaver. It is an enduring classic for many who grew up in the early 2000s.
According toVariety,theHolestelevision adaptation has received a pilot orderand will be helmed by writer and executive producer Alina Mankin (Anne with an E), withYellowjacketsalum Liz Phang serving as showrunner and Drew Goddard (The Martian) as executive producer. This time around, it will center on a teenage girl—rather than a boy—forced to dig mysterious holes at a detention camp led by the ruthless Warden. Goddard said theHolesdevelopment team has done “a wonderful job capturing Louis Sachar’s unique spirit.” He added, “To say much more about what they have in store would spoil all the fun.”
What Hole’s TV Adaptation Means
A Darker Twist For Camp Green Lake?
TheHolesTV adaptation continuesDisney’s commitment to reviving beloved literary and cinematic classics, following news of aTreasure Islandremake and a live-actionTangledentering development.The newHolesseries reimagines the novel’s protagonist, Stanley Yelnats—portrayed by LaBeouf in the 2003 film—as a teenage girl incarcerated at Camp Green Lake, where perhaps all-female prisoners are forced to dig holes under the Texas sun every day.
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With Goddard and Phang at the helm,Holesmay explore a darker, more thrilling side to the children’s novel. Goddard, known for his work on horror projects likeThe Cabin in the Woods, brings a knack for tense and atmospheric stories that could bring a fresh layer of suspense to Camp Green Lake’s mysteries and the Yelnats family curse. Similarly, Phang’s experience with intense dramas likeNetflix’sThe Haunting of Hill Housesuggests the book’s focus on friendship, racism, and generational curses might take on even greater resonance in the series under their creative direction.
Progress Or Playing It Safe?
While it’s exciting to seeHolesreimagined with a teenage girl as the protagonist—a much-needed shift in an industry where female leads in adventurous,coming-of-age storiesare lacking—Disney’s ongoing focus on remakes and rebootssidelines opportunities for fresh, original narratives. The studio’s increasing reliance on its established properties has started to feel like a steady financial opportunity over any sort of dedication to compelling storylines and cinematic creativity. It remains to be seen whether theHolesgender-swap adaptation will forge new paths rather than retread familiar ones.
Holes
Cast
A teenage boy finds himself at a juvenile detention camp after being falsely accused of theft. Each day, he and the other boys are forced to dig holes in the desert, supposedly to build character. As the protagonist delves deeper into the camp’s secrets, he uncovers a mysterious connection to his own family’s history, leading to the revelation of a hidden treasure and the resolution of an ancient curse.
