Because absolutely no property is sacred in Hollywood, Gidget will soon be surfing back onto the small and big screens. Producer Mark Canton (300, Letters to Juliet) and Pterodactyl Prods. are working on bringing back the once popular character, according to Variety, updating the character for TV and film projects.On TV, it was Sally Field (now seen on a weekly basis in Brothers and Sisters) who played the innocent teen who loved her dad, the boys (in a strictly G-rated style), and surfing in the '60s TV series. In films, a variety of actress took on the role including Sandra Dee (in the original 1959 Gidget), Deborah Walley (Gidget Goes Hawaiian [1961]), Cindy Carol (Gidget Goes to Rome [1963]) , Karen Valentine (Gidget Grows Up [1969]), and Monie Ellis (Gidget Gets Married [1972]).
The franchise was briefly brought back to life once before. The New Gidget ran on TV from 1986-1988 with Caryn Richman playing a grown-up Gidget married to her longtime love, Moondoggie (played by Dean Butler).
And for those who are totally unfamiliar with anything to do with Gidget, the female surfer's name is a combination of girl and midget. Frederick Kohner wrote the series of Gidget books (including Gidget, Gidget Goes Hawaiian and Gidget Goes to Rome) that provided the basis for the Gidget films and original TV show. Kohner's 'Gidget' was based on his then 16 year old daughter Kathy and her adventures hanging out at Malibu Beach.
"Gidget has always been such a strong symbol of girl power. With female surfing exploding across the globe, the time is right to bring her back in a major way," producer Canton told Variety.
(Photo © Sony Pictures)
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