A new TV series adaptation of Louis Sachar’s starred Shia LaBeouf, Khleo Thomas, Jon Voight, Patricia Arquette, Eartha Kitt, and Sigourney Weaver. It is an enduring classic for many who grew up in the early 2000s.

According to Variety, the Holes television adaptation has received a pilot order and will be helmed by writer and executive producer Alina Mankin (Anne with an E), with Yellowjackets alum Liz Phang serving as showrunner and Drew Goddard (The Martian) as executive producer. This time around, it will center on a teenage girl—rather than a boy—forced to dig mysterious holes at a detention camp led by the ruthless Warden. Goddard said the Holes development team has done "a wonderful job capturing Louis Sachar’s unique spirit." He added, "To say much more about what they have in store would spoil all the fun."

What Hole's TV Adaptation Means

A Darker Twist For Camp Green Lake?

The Holes TV adaptation continues Disney’s commitment to reviving beloved literary and cinematic classics, following news of a Treasure Island remake and a live-action Tangled entering development. The new Holes series reimagines the novel's protagonist, Stanley Yelnats—portrayed by LaBeouf in the 2003 film—as a teenage girl incarcerated at Camp Green Lake, where perhaps all-female prisoners are forced to dig holes under the Texas sun every day.

With Goddard and Phang at the helm, Holes may explore a darker, more thrilling side to the children's novel. Goddard, known for his work on horror projects like The Cabin in the Woods, brings a knack for tense and atmospheric stories that could bring a fresh layer of suspense to Camp Green Lake’s mysteries and the Yelnats family curse. Similarly, Phang’s experience with intense dramas like Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House suggests the book's focus on friendship, racism, and generational curses might take on even greater resonance in the series under their creative direction.

Our Take On The Holes Reboot

Progress Or Playing It Safe?

While it’s exciting to see Holes reimagined with a teenage girl as the protagonist—a much-needed shift in an industry where female leads in adventurous, coming-of-age stories are lacking—Disney’s ongoing focus on remakes and reboots sidelines opportunities for fresh, original narratives. The studio's increasing reliance on its established properties has started to feel like a steady financial opportunity over any sort of dedication to compelling storylines and cinematic creativity. It remains to be seen whether the Holes gender-swap adaptation will forge new paths rather than retread familiar ones.

Source: Variety