Burbank, Ca. - As "Knight Rider", NBC's iconic 1980s televisionclassic that became a runaway success, comes roaring back to life on thenetwork with an updated sequel that will air as a two-hour movie eventon Sunday, February 17 (9-11 p.m. ET) -- NBC unveiled the new customizedKITT Ford Mustang to be featured in the series in a press event held atNBC's Burbank Studios today.
The movie stars Justin Bruening ("Cold Case," "All My Children"), DeannaRusso ("NCIS," "The Young and the Restless"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier("Veronica Mars," "Grindhouse") and Bruce Davison ("Breach," "Close toHome"). In addition, David Hasselhoff (NBC's "America's Got Talent") --who starred in the popular lead role as Michael Knight for four seasonsduring the original series -- returns as the same character in a specialguest-star appearance. Will Arnett (NBC's "30 Rock," "Blades of Glory")will provide the voice of KITT.
Dave Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C.") and Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith,""The Bourne Identity") serve as executive producers.
NBC also has an arrangement with Ford Motor Company that provides for aunique content opportunity that makes the Ford Mustang one of the starsof the movie.
The three cars to be employed in the series include the KITT Hero -- aFord Mustang Shelby GT500KR that is playing the part of the everydayHero car with 540 horsepower; the KITT Attack -- a super high-speedversion of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR Hero car that transforms intoAttack mode with the help of air-ride technology and specialized bodyparts -- and a KITT Remote, which is a driverless Ford Mustang ShelbyGT500KR version of the Hero vehicle.
As the original story resumes, the new KITT (Knight Industries ThreeThousand) is absolutely the coolest car ever created: its supercomputercapable of hacking almost any system; its weapons systems efficient; andits body -- thanks to its creator's work and nanotechnology -- iscapable of actually shifting shape and color. Plus, its artificialintelligence makes it the ideal crime-fighting partner: logical, preciseand possessing infinite knowledge. It is the ultimate car -- and someonewill be willing to do anything to obtain it.
Sarah Graiman is a 24-year old Ph.D candidate at Stanford University,following in her genius father Charles' (Davison) footsteps. But whenmen attempt to abduct her, Sarah receives a mysterious call from KITTwarning her that he's a creation of Charles, who also invented the firstKITT 25 years ago -- and that her father is in serious danger.
Sarah and KITT track down her best friend from childhood, Mike Tracer(Bruening), a 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger, whom Sarah hasn't seen sincehe left home at 18. Having served in Iraq, Mike is now jaded and lostand initially resistant. Eventually he agrees to help Sarah and the twoset out to discover who's behind the attempt to procure KITT and findCharles. Along the way, Carrie Rivai (Poitier) plays the agile yet toughFBI agent who has a long-standing friendship with Charles and Sarah. Dueto those ties, she is brought into the mix to help in the search.
David Andron is supervising producer and writer. Steve Shill ("Dexter,""The Tudors"), also a co-executive producer, directs the two-hour moviefrom Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.