Knight in new armor

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There’s a new ‘Knight Rider’ two-hour television movie coming soon to NBC (scheduled for Feb. 17), and it’s updated in most every way. David Hasselhoff will make an appearance, but the 1982 Pontiac Firebird that was KITT will be replaced with new blood.

This is a new time with new technology, and, of course, General Motors no longer makes the Firebird, much to the chagrin of fans of both the car itself and the car as TV star.

For the 21st century, KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) has new powers and a new voice and is a different car: a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR. It now takes two forms and is capable of shifting shape and color, which requires computer-generated graphics and two distinctly designed cars. That means you go from the first design, a stock GT500KR, and morph to the second, the so-called Attack Car. Because there are no GT500KRs yet, the parts had to be shipped to Galpin Ford and its GAS shop in Van Nuys, the home of ‘Pimp My Ride,’ for the KRs to be assembled for filming.

Famed movie car designer Harald Belker was called upon to design the Attack Car and the modern interior of all the KITTs. I’ve known and worked with Harald, and when I spoke with him at the KITT unveiling ceremony at the NBC Burbank Studio, I was surprised to hear that he watched ‘Knight Rider’ while growing up in Germany. Evidently, part of that curious Teutonic fascination with the Hoff.

Harald designed the Batmobile for ‘Batman & Robin,’ the futuristic car for ‘Minority Report’ and the ‘Cat in the Hat’ car, among others. As a fan of the original ‘Knight Rider’ series, he probably knew that the Attack Mustang had to be a very strong design that would excite viewers old and new. The Attack Car and interiors were built by Ted Moser’s Picture Car Warehouse.

There’s also a remote-controlled KITT that can be operated from one mile away, with doors that open and close remotely, this one adapted by the film’s special-effects department. There’s also a ‘process car’ with driver controls on the roof, so the shots can be cleaner (without the car being towed by a camera truck). Ford and NBC have put a lot into this movie and into KITT. The buzz on press day was their intent to go to series -- the variable is, of course, whether the audience will accept a new KITT and a new cast. We’ll see.

-- Josh Hancock