ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST Spinoff Series Will Focus on The Chief — GeekTyrant

Geek Tyrant

7 days ago

We're heading back into the oppressive halls of the Oregon psychiatric hospital in a One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest spinoff series, only now, the story will be through the eyes of the man who saw everything but said nothing… Chief Bromden.
Producer Paul Zaentz, nephew of legendary Oscar-winning producer Saul Zaentz, dropped the news on the indie filmmaking podcast CK Café, revealing that a spinoff series is officially in development. The show will center the story on the character author Ken Kesey originally intended to lead the narrative, the Chief.
'Just now, I've signed an agreement with Ken Kesey's widow to develop a TV series which we'll make through the point of view of the Chief for the first season,' Zaentz said. 'Following the first season, we'll see what happens to the Chief after he escapes [from the psychiatric hospital].'
Will Sampson's performance as the towering, half-Native American patient in the film became iconic, but the character's internal world involving paranoia, hallucinations, the deep ancestral grief, was largely left on the page.
Now, that inner world is coming to life. There's no writer attached yet, and it's unclear whether a network or streamer is on board.
As Zaentz put it on CK Café, he's cautious about revisiting cinematic masterpieces. 'Don't remake Psycho ,' he said, noting that a series, unlike a film remake, can allow for deeper exploration of character. He's skeptical of some recent small-screen reimaginings like The Mosquito Coast and Ripley , but clearly sees potential in peeling back more layers of Cuckoo's Nest, especially with the Chief at the center.
It's also worth noting that this series is arriving alongside a major theatrical re-release of the original film. Fathom Entertainment will screen One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in over 1,000 U.S. theaters this month to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary.
The only other spinoff we've seen so far was Ratched , the 2020 Netflix series about the infamous Nurse Ratched's origin. It only lasted a single season, and while Zaentz produced it, this new project seems to be returning to something more spiritually aligned with the source material.
Now the question is: who will play the Chief?
Source: Deadline