The Gilligan’s Island TV show was created by Sherwood Schwartz (The Brady Bunch) and follows a diverse group of people who’ve been shipwrecked on an uncharted island in the Pacific. The sitcom debuted in 1964 and ran for just three seasons. Though there are only 98 episodes, the sitcom became incredibly popular in syndication and the characters have become a part of popular culture. The original castaways are the Skipper (Alan Hale, Jr.), first-mate Gilligan (Bob Denver), the wealthy Howells (Jim Backus and Natalie Schafer), movie star Ginger (Tina Louise), the genius Professor (Russell Johnson), and farmgirl Mary Ann (Dawn Wells).
Most of the castaways reunited for a number of projects over the years, including three TV movies (Rescue from Gilligan’s Island, The Castaways on Gilligan’s Island, and The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island), two animated series (The New Adventures of Gilligan and Gilligan’s Planet), and numerous guest-spots on shows like ALF, Baywatch, and Roseanne.
There’s been talk of doing a big screen movie version of Gilligan’s Island on and off for many years. At one time, it looked like Jim Carrey was going to play Gilligan. Now, there are new plans in the works.
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Schwartz was recently inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Hall of Fame. Longtime friend and Brady Florence Henderson introduced him on stage. At the ceremony, the 92 year-old said that he and son Lloyd had just signed the deal for a Gilligan movie. He reportedly told TV Guide, “[It] just happened in the last 48 hours. I can’t take this much excitement at my age.”
Though the project is still in the very early stages of development, Schwartz would love to see Michael Cera (Arrested Development) as Gilligan and Beyonce Knowles as Ginger. Of the latter, original castmember Wells chimed in said, “There isn’t anybody sexier than Beyonce!”
If the movie is eventually made, it’s doubtful that any of the surviving actors from the original series would reprise their roles. Only three — Louise, Johnson, and Wells — are still with us. Still, it does seem likely that they’d be offered cameos, in a similar vein as some of the original Brady actors who popped up in the first Brady Bunch movie. Will it be made? Stay tuned!
What do you think? Who would you like to see board the S.S. Minnow for a new three hour tour? Should a Gilligan movie finally be made or should the idea be thrown out to sea before it goes any further? Share your thoughts below!
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