Paramount promised more movies as part of its push to merge with Warner Bros. Apparently, that means leaving no castle unexplored.
The studio is developing a movie based on Medieval Times, the dinner attraction where guests cheer for jousting knights while eating a feast. Yes, the place with horses, swords, and paper crowns is now the inspiration for a new feature film.
The project adds an unexpected title to Paramount’s ambitious slate under David Ellison. It also offers something increasingly unusual among the studio’s announcements: a movie that isn’t a sequel or reboot.
Dinner and a Potentially Deadly Show
As Deadline, Paramount is developing a live-action family comedy with Eric Appel directing and Blaise Hemingway writing.
Appel previously directed Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, while Hemingway’s credits include Clifford the Big Red Dog.
The story follows a struggling employee at the Orlando Medieval Times who accidentally brings a real ninth-century knight into the modern world. An ancient evil necromancer also arrives, forcing the employee and warrior to protect the castle and eventually the world. Earning some overdue respect is also on the employee’s agenda.
Entertainer at Medieval Times – Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, YouTube
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That premise gives the filmmakers an obvious source of comedy. A warrior accustomed to actual combat could have difficulty understanding a workplace where sword fights are scheduled entertainment.
Introducing supernatural danger also gives the story somewhere to go beyond jokes about tourists and theatrical pageantry. The attraction becomes a setting for an adventure rather than simply the subject of a workplace comedy.
Paramount Has Plenty of Seats to Fill
The announcement fits Paramount’s broader effort to expand its theatrical output.
During the Warner Bros. acquisition campaign, Ellison promised that the combined studios would release at least 30 movies annually. That pledge addressed concerns that joining two major Hollywood studios would leave theaters with fewer films to show. The merger closed October 6, making that production strategy a practical challenge for the combined company.
Paramount has already been assembling a slate heavy on familiar properties.
Optimus Prime in Transformers (2007) – Paramount Pictures
Bradley Cooper will play Duke in Danny McBride’s G.I. Joe reboot. A How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days sequel is also in development, while Paul Feig has been in early talks for another Italian Job movie.
Meanwhile, Steven Spielberg is taking a more active creative role in the next Transformers, with Michael Bay in talks to direct.
A New Story Beneath a Familiar Banner
Medieval Times still draws on an established brand, so Paramount isn’t abandoning recognizable names. However, its filmmakers can introduce new characters without continuing an existing movie’s storyline or reworking a previous adaptation.
That freedom could help diversify a slate crowded with returning franchises. A family fantasy comedy offers a different appeal from military action, robot battles, and nostalgic romance.
Entertainer at Medieval Times – Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, YouTube
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Some online reactions have welcomed the premise as a throwback to the imaginative adventure films of the 1980s and 1990s. Many of today’s enduring franchises began during that period, suggesting there is value in giving new stories a chance to find an audience.
Of course, announcing projects is easier than delivering worthwhile movies. Paramount’s promises require a steady flow of theatrical releases, but audiences still need reasons to buy tickets. Since this project is still in early development, no cast or release details are available.
For Medieval Times, the challenge is turning a recognizable dinner destination into an adventure with engaging characters and memorable comedy. Paper crowns may get people through the door, but the filmmakers will need more than a familiar castle to keep them entertained.
How do you feel about the idea of a Medieval Times movie? Sound off and let us know!
