Today I went to NBC studios for the unveiling of the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) for the upcoming two-hour television movie Knight Rider set to air on February 17 at 9 p.m. ET. This modern-day sequel to the iconic 1980's show stars Justin Bruening (Cold Case), Deanna Russo (The Young and the Restless), Sydney Tamiia Poitier (Veronica Mars), and Bruce Davison (Breach). Will Arnett (Arrested Development) will play the voice of KITT. And don't worry, the Hoff will make a guest appearance as Michael Knight.
So, the whole point of the new Knight Rider movie is that KITT is the coolest car ever created and people will do anything to get their hands on it. The car has a supercomputer capable of hacking other computer systems, weapons, and it's body can shapeshift and change colors thanks to nanotechnology (and the magic of television). Plus, the car has artificial intelligence so it is the ultimate crime-fighting machine.
As I said, there were three cars at the event. They presented the KITT remote first. It is a driverless Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR which can be remote-operated from up to a mile away. 
The second car presented was the KITT Hero. It is the same make and model but it will play the part of the everyday car. They made a big deal about it having 540 horsepower too. I don't know much about cars so the information was lost on me. This car was driven by Justin Bruening and had the rest of the cast stuffed inside. 
The last car presented was the KITT Attack. This is a super high-speed version of the Hero car. The stuntman drove this car out and did some circles that made lots of smoke. The circles of smoke were slightly more impressive than the big announcement about the horsepower. 
After all the cars were presented, the cast got out of the KITT Hero car and stood as far away from the photographers as they could. Then the photographers yelled at them and made them come closer. Here's the cast from left to right: Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo, Bruce Davison, and Sydney Tamiia Poitier. 
This is Justin Bruening who plays Mike Tracer, the estranged son of original Knight Rider Michael Knight. He used to be an Abercrombie and Fitch model. Can you tell? 
Here's Deanna Russo who plays Sarah Graiman, the childhood friend and ex-girlfriend of Mike Tracer. She is also the daughter Charles Graiman who created KITT. She seeks out Mike's help when she receives word that her father is missing. 
Here's Sydney Tamiia Poitier (yep, she's related to him). The youngest daughter of legendary screen actor Sydney Sidney Poitier, she plays Carrie Ruvai, the tough FBI agent who butts heads with Mike Tracer. 
And finally here's Bruce Davison who plays Charles Graiman, the creator of KITT. He's spent most of his life trying to keep the blueprints for KITT out of the wrong hands. When he is attacked, KITT is sent to protect his daughter Sarah. 
Sadly, there were no pictures allowed of the inside of the cars. Well, let me clarify that. I was allowed to photograph the remote car's inside (so that's what you see below) but the other cars were not open. When I asked I got a slightly confusing answer about how the cars will be commercially available after the movie has aired. So, I think that they used a separate little set-up to the shots with the inside of the car. I apologize that I don't have a more exciting picture for the interior of the car. 
The new Knight Rider airs on Sunday February 17th at 9 p.m. ET. If nothing more compelling is on, I will definitely tune in. My reasons are these. First, Will Arnett is amazing and I'm interested to see what he does with the voice of KITT. Second, Bruce Davison will undoubtedly be great as the car's creator. He has done some awesome work in the past (i.e. X-Men, Breach, and The Crucible). What are you predictions for Knight Rider? Will you watch it?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
1-25-2008 @ 2:41PM
Alex said...
They Should have used the new Camaro (I work for a company that makes many of the Aluminum framing for the Camaro, it's an awesome ride) due out soon. Oh Ya! GM is having a problem with start up production, that should have been out last year.
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1-26-2008 @ 1:48PM
Mystical said...
You Know I understand your points but as a Mustang fan I think its Great thats its Coming back as a Stang! i Love the idea,
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1-26-2008 @ 10:28PM
Lobo said...
Hmmm where to start with how much of a fubar this is, im thinking the first point is that KITT, was not a mustang he was a trans am. Second the article sounds like it was written by a five year old that has only grasped the concept to look for cars before runnin in to the street to get the shiny red ball they dropped. If you are to write an article on a car show you should know something about them aside from where the gas goes and that the color needs to match your lipstick. This series is a bigger butchering of a classic show than Starbuck being a female in the new remake of Battle Star Galactica. At least in the Starskey and Hutch movie and the dukes of hazard remake they didnt decide to use a VW turbo bug or a Saturn S series.(for those of you who dont know much about cars like the person that wrote this article that was an insult : - ) The only good thing I can actualley say about this article is that the new actor does look like the Hoff , however seeing as he has spent most of his career modeling underwear I doubt he will perform any better than a hack soap opera star. I do look forward to his next big hit with the new Baywatch movie that I am hoping it will be shot entirely in slow motion with lots of running.
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2-18-2008 @ 12:18AM
Euclide Richard said...
I agree with you lobo, whileI watched this movie, i so wanted to leave the house, so not cool.
My only thought was this was just some fancy way for Ford to sell their mustangs.
It did not feel like KITT, didn't look like KITT and it didn't even have any class like KITT.
The story line for the show sucked big time, no cliff hangers, no action other then at the end where the suv crashes into the car, and to me it defaced KITT's personality and capabilities, which this new ford kitt had none of.
1-27-2008 @ 8:51PM
david said...
Whats not GT about a shelby GT 500. I don't understand this guy must be a moron. Whats this about not being sleek do you need glasses or what. I like the fact that they feel the need to have a real Muscle for the car they they are going to use. And they knew where to go to get horse power. LETS GET REAL HERE.
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1-30-2008 @ 1:47PM
matt said...
how dumb are you guys frist if you make it the old firebird or trans am YOU HAVE TO FIND ONE FIRST
buy it restore it then put the computer crap in it
I do love the mustang but i do feel KITT shood be a
09 Camaro or the G6 and the 05 GTO was a brick to
and thay did not sell good i don't think GM can bring back the Firebird :( thay can't even sell the cars thay have now over Toyoda(boo rice cars)
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1-30-2008 @ 7:16PM
deliverence said...
many people have made great points toward the new K.I.T.T./Knight Rider. The trans am of the origenal series was the perfect fit. it didnt stand out. David Haselhoff was (in my openion) the suporting actor to K.I.T.T. . I wonder if they will have a K.A.R.R. counterpart as well. I was immediately thrilled to hear there is a new series,but after seeing the mustang and the new scaner lights, i was immediately let down. The final straw was "Hello, Mike..." instead of "Michael". I have put this series (at this time) into my mental collection of child hood tv shows killed by greed. i will watch the series pilot and probly record it. i have the entier dvd collection wich includes knight rider 2000. i saw the pilot for 2010 i am looking for it allong with team knight rider. if there any other series titles or spinoffs please let me know or if you have any information about where i can find any of the titles.
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2-02-2008 @ 3:28AM
J said...
Sure hope this 'new revived' K.I.T.T. has some outrageous tricks n' effects, not to mention other gadgets n' tricked-out gizmos bcuz it's gonna take some doing to 'out do' the ORIGINAL KNIGHTRIDER!
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2-08-2008 @ 2:17PM
Aztec105 said...
All I can say is thank god it was not a Civic or a matrix they used ........ Moooowaaaaahhhhaaahhaaa
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2-08-2008 @ 7:15PM
SEAN said...
ALBERTO, I AGREE KAT IS AN IDOT, THE N EW K.I.T.T. IS PERFACT AND THEY DID ONE HELL OF A KICK ASS JOB ON THE NEW CAR. IF ALL PEOPLE CAN DO IS GRIPE AND BITCH, THEN THEY SHOULD SHUT UP AND GO AWAY, I CANT WAIT TO SEE THE NEW SHOW
GREAT JOB TO THE PRODUCTION TEAM
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2-18-2008 @ 12:23AM
Euclide Richard said...
well let me tell you Sean, this new series is gona drop like dead flies, will never make it.
The story line sucked, KITT going silver(copy cat of the tv show VIPER), and it has no class computer wise either like the last KITT in Season 4.
Any KnightRider fan would deplore this crappy show, it will never fly, be lucky to make 1 season with it.
2-09-2008 @ 4:47PM
michael said...
Hello, I am 27, I grew up with this series. I watched faithfully as a child.
I cannot, and sadly will not, support this abhorent, abomination of a series. You simply used the wrong car, you should have used the original car (even modified), they still look futuristic even today. You could have at least used the new Camero, but no, you destroyed the K.I.T.T. name, and brought shame to the series.
This will be a grand failure, you will wonder why. This is simple, your stuffed suits, stuck their nose in where it didn't belong. I am dissappointed that you would place the Ford dollar before the show.
You should realize by now with all the negative mail, that the faithfull will turn away from this series, you failed to maintain the balance. It was so simple too, all you had to do was not mess with the "star" of this show, which always was the car, no-one really cared for the actors. This would be analagise to "The Dukes of Hazzard" using a Toyota as the General Lee.
Your project team made a fatal error in their start-up meeting, I imagine this simple point is so far over your heads that even if you do read these messages, you still don't understand your disasterous mistake. You, "Jumped the Shark in a Cobra Mustang", before the series started. A new record!
I hate to be this sturn, but you have destroyed, a childhood dream.
Thanks for the memories,
All of us dissappointed and disenfranchised in the U.S.
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2-10-2008 @ 6:56PM
Evey said...
I'm okay with letting go the Trans Am (and I OWN one!) for the Mustang. The Modern Mustang has the cool factor with the accessibility factor in one. You KNOW KITT would upgrade to look cooler (and deny the whole thing). I just don't get how they can say this new grey hair guy is the creator of KITT. Wilton Knight created KITT. Y'know...KIGHT Industries? Are they devorcing this show from the original plot lines entirely? That would be sad! I hope they don't change the car's personality. He/it was a wonderful snob and a great sidekick. And a hero in his/its own right at times. It would be sad if they brought down the "good guy" factor in hopes of making the show more saleable. The hero/good guy thing was one of the aspects that kept the show alive so long. That and blinky lights!
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2-11-2008 @ 12:46AM
wes said...
i think they should have stuck with pontiac and used the latest modle trans am not a mustang
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2-14-2008 @ 3:31PM
Chris said...
We just posted an exclusive interview with the inventor of the new LED light chaser on KITT in the 2008 movie this Sunday. Check it out... I added a lot of photos and 3 videos!
http://www.musclecarblog.com/story-145-knight_rider_led_light_scanner_howd_they_do_it
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2-15-2008 @ 6:48PM
TheKOE said...
To use a mustang (I own one) for the car in this show HAS to be an inside joke. FORD - Fix Or Repair Daily - It just HAS to be! Unless they feel sorry for FORD and this maybe a way for them to increase sales so everyone else who has not driven a Ford lately, join the long line of people that has experienced headaches with this Make. A Viper, to me, could have made this show a lot more exciting and a heck of a lot more realistic!! Do not get me wrong; I really love the Mustang, but I also love the Mets, if you get my drift.
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2-16-2008 @ 11:23AM
Bart_Decaux said...
Um, you all seem to be making the mistake of thinking the producers give a rat's behind what you think.
They aren't making this series for the fans of the original, it's supposed to appeal to a completely new generation. It would be commercial suicide to make any new series just to appeal to a few diehard fanboys of some cheesy old show.
All shows are designed to appeal to as wide an audience as possible to generate money. Do you seriously think they'd pump millions of dollars into a new series that'll find a core audience of a few thousand die-hards?
Sure, boycott the show if you don't like it- as viewers, you won't be missed, I'm sure.
As for the choice of car, it makes perfect sense to use the Mustang- whatever some individuals views are on the Mustang and Fords in general, the fact remains that it's a hugely successful vehicle, both culturally and commercially. Again, money is what really counts.
If the writing is good enough, the show will succeed. To the vast majority of viewers, that is all that matters. Brand loyalty doesn't even come into it on a global viewing scale.
In any event, if you prefer the original, then watch that- it's not as if making a new version destroys the old one, is it? Who knows, it'll probably be even better- I remember the old Galactica as a kid and I couldn't stand a minute of it, but I love the new version, so these things can and do work.
Go ahead and rant if it makes you feel better. Just don't go around thinking anyone cares.
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2-16-2008 @ 4:31PM
matt said...
yer i think the new car looks well but i do think the original kitt should have made an entrance some where in the movie even if wasnt in any action as this car built the movie really if it wasnt for this car doing its stuff in the 80's they would be no movie today. im sure it will be a good film but these type of films have a lot to live upto and they dont usually manage it but i think thats cause the 80's was such a fantastic decade im sure u all agree
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2-17-2008 @ 8:56PM
Jeff said...
@#16
I'm a fag. I drive a Ford. And I'll be watching Knight Rider tonight.
You wanna make out sometime?
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2-19-2008 @ 3:37AM
matt said...
wot was the film like Jeff ??