Would an "I Dream of Jeannie" Reboot Be Problematic?

[CMWaters]

I had a dream last night that I was a movie scriptwriter, and I was charged with the task of making a script for an "I Dream Of Jeannie" movie.

Made me think though...redoing that these days might be seen as a bit of a problem. I mean, a woman (even one as powerful as Jeannie) obsessing over a man, calling him master, and such...could that fly in today's cultural landscape without scrutiny? Or would they make changes like...instead of a guy, Jeannie's new "master" is a woman or non-binary?

I dunno, like I said, I just had that dream and got me thinking in a weird way.

Side note: Jeannie is still one of my "retro crushes".

[eJm]

I mean, even with the idea of what a reboot is defined as, it’d be weird to just do the show again in the same way because, well, what would be the point of doing a reboot?

All of it really depends on whose on board and the approach they take etc so it’s all hypotheticals, really.

[Spider2024]

Both gender roles would be flipped, with a male genie named Johnnie. And be played by Will Smith.

[James Fabiano]

Jeannie would be powerful/independent, such that you no longer can tell the difference between her and Samantha.

She'd probably be more on par with Genie from Aladdin.

[James Fabiano]

Mar 14, 2021 10:05:12 GMT -5 Spider2024 said:

Both gender roles would be flipped, with a male genie named Johnnie. And be played by Will Smith.

Will Smith being a genie. What could go wrong?

[hassanchop]

Neither will happen. A modern take will be about a not so sharp individual finds a bottle and thinks there’s a genie hence the title. Just a dream, in reality:



Not a creature was stirring

[BlackoutCreature]

This is possibly mildly political and racial, I apologize in advance if this breaks any rules.

The thing with I Dream of Jeannie, and similar "hide the fantastic abilities" shows of its time (Bewitched, My Favorite Martian, Mister Ed, etc.) is that they seemed to be reflections of your average suburban white families opinions of the Civil Rights movement of the time. A whole don't make waves/hide in plain sight. As the decades marched on, this kind of thinking gave way to more of an opinion that people shouldn't hide their diversity to fit in, but respect and celebrate it. This is basically the prevailing line of thought that the bulk of society has today.

So to do a show like this in todays environment, regardless of gender of either master or genie, where a supremely powerful being is told to keep their abilities a secret and stay hidden to "fit in" I don't think would pass mustard nowadays. Just too many issues with it.

[Mandarin Dessert Version 0]

I have nothing against a reboot though there should be some changes made like the genie should be a half-genie, half-human,  have powerful dances to transform into different animals and she should also have a group of friends including a dim-witted musclehead, a snarky warbird trainer and a zombie that obsesses over eating people's brains unless she gets enough coffee to drink.

[CMWaters]

Mar 14, 2021 11:36:17 GMT -5 Mandarin Dessert Version 0 said:

I have nothing against a reboot though there should be some changes made like the genie should be a half-genie, half-human,  have powerful dances to transform into different animals and she should also have a group of friends including a dim-witted musclehead, a snarky warbird trainer and a zombie that obsesses over eating people's brains unless she gets enough coffee to drink.

You joke, but I would love to see some crossover between Shantae and Jeannie. Even if it's just the former having a costume of the latter.

[Deleted]

I think you could do it while sidestepping some of the issues surrounding it so long as you handled it well, either through framing her devotion as an issue or by showing that it's not something she feels compelled to do but rather just wants to do. Having a strong supporting cast of women with their own things going on that don't fall into the same roles would help a lot with making it clear that it isn't a, "Get in the kitchen, woman," thing.

... Honestly it's occurring to me that if you want the same basic idea but with a gender-flipped Tony, that's basically Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid.

[wildojinx]

Mar 14, 2021 10:05:12 GMT -5 Spider2024 said:

Both gender roles would be flipped, with a male genie named Johnnie. And be played by Will Smith.

Now, I know you're referring to the live action remake, but,,

[CMWaters]

Mar 14, 2021 16:54:42 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

I think you could do it while sidestepping some of the issues surrounding it so long as you handled it well, either through framing her devotion as an issue or by showing that it's not something she feels compelled to do but rather just wants to do. Having a strong supporting cast of women with their own things going on that don't fall into the same roles would help a lot with making it clear that it isn't a, "Get in the kitchen, woman," thing.

... Honestly it's occurring to me that if you want the same basic idea but with a gender-flipped Tony, that's basically Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid.

Bolded part:
Technically it was that way in the show. In the first episode, after Tony got rescued, he wished Jeannie free. She was the one that chose her bottle to sneak into his gear so she could be with him, and thus it's her choice to stay with him. Thought that does cause some weirdness if you know that for later in the show and one of the TV movies.

[Welfare Willis]

Mar 14, 2021 10:18:50 GMT -5 James Fabiano said:

Mar 14, 2021 10:05:12 GMT -5 Spider2024 said:

Both gender roles would be flipped, with a male genie named Johnnie. And be played by Will Smith.

Will Smith being a genie. What could go wrong?

Now, this is a story all about how
My life got flipped-turned upside down
And I liked to take a minute
Just sit right there
I'll tell you how I became a genie trapped in a bottle of Nair.

[Limity (BLM)]

As long as her belly button isn't visible, should be just fine.

[Gus Richlen Was Wrong]

I just someone to bring back Columbo.

[sabretooth]

Mar 14, 2021 21:15:08 GMT -5 Gus Richlen Was Wrong said:

I just someone to bring back Columbo.

Lobo.... Lobo.... bring back Sheriff Lobo!

[TWERKIN' MAGGLE]

I dream of Gene Parmesan.

[dav]

Mar 14, 2021 21:15:08 GMT -5 Gus Richlen Was Wrong said:

I just someone to bring back Columbo.

It'd be hard to make it work as well. Peter Falk brought so much to the character that someone doing it again is going to have to add their own stuff so it isn't just a copy. Columbo's an odd case where the actor defined the character more than anything else.

[Welfare Willis]

Mar 14, 2021 21:15:08 GMT -5 Gus Richlen Was Wrong said:

I just someone to bring back Columbo.

I was about to post about the absence of the "mystery" of the week type shows then I remembered the millions of CSI and Law and Order shows we have now.

[Mozenrath]

Mar 14, 2021 22:23:52 GMT -5 dav said:

Mar 14, 2021 21:15:08 GMT -5 Gus Richlen Was Wrong said:

I just someone to bring back Columbo.

It'd be hard to make it work as well. Peter Falk brought so much to the character that someone doing it again is going to have to add their own stuff so it isn't just a copy. Columbo's an odd case where the actor defined the character more than anything else.

Right, he literally changed certain aspects or brought some of his own, like the coat being one he brought himself. He's doable, but you would need to do it with care to not just seem like a shitty Halloween costume and not an actual living, breathing character.