Adam Sandler will star in a remake of the 1974 Burt Reynolds comedy “The Longest Yard,” the story of a former football player turned convict who challenges prison guards to a game.
Production will begin in June with Columbia Pictures, Sherry Lansing of Paramount’s Motion Picture Group said Monday.
Sandler will play Paul Crewe, the retired football player, in a role Reynolds originally played 30 years ago.
Producers also are in discussion with comedian Chris Rock to play the role of Caretaker and rapper Snoop Dogg to play a member of the team.
“Although we plan to update quite a few things, the overall story will remain intact,” said Jack Giarraputo, who co-owns the Happy Madison production company with Sandler. “We want to keep the same blend of comedy and grit that made the first one a classic.”