Hooters: The Movie is officially in the early stages of pre-production, with original co-founders directly involved in bringing the restaurant chain’s origin story to the screen as a buddy-comedy biopic slated to begin filming in November, according to reports from IGN and People.
The feature film explores the unlikely beginnings of the casual dining and sports bar chain founded in 1983 by six individuals: Lynn D. Stewart, Gil DiGiannantonio, Ed Droste, Billy Ranieri, Ken Wimmer, and Dennis Johnson, as reported by IGN. According to a press release shared with People, the plot follows two friends from Iowa, Ted and Lenny, who embark on a road trip to Clearwater Beach, Florida. Ted is determined to find Diane, a woman he saw in a spring break commercial, who ultimately becomes the very first Hooters Girl.
Co-founder Ed Droste is producing the movie and co-authoring the screenplay, according to IGN. Jon Rosenbaum, who directed Benchwarmers 2: Breaking Balls, is attached to direct the project. Casting is currently underway under casting director Catherine Stroud, with principal photography scheduled to take place in the Tampa and Clearwater areas of Florida, where the original restaurant opened its doors.
“I think people are going to enjoy watching how we were really just some guys who didn’t know what we were doing, but had a great time doing it,” Droste said in a press release quoted by IGN and People. “And of course, our world-famous Hooters Girls are the real stars. It’s time to deliver a taste of our big-hearted culture and famous humor to the world.”
Director Jon Rosenbaum described the project to IGN and People as a combination of a hilarious buddy comedy and an inspiring biopic. Rosenbaum noted that the narrative centers on two lifelong friends with a crazy idea willing to bet everything on a wild journey, culminating in the creation of a brand that grew to encompass roughly 200 locations within the United States and 60 international spots across regions like Japan, Switzerland, and the Bahamas.
The film project follows recent leadership comments regarding the brand’s image. According to People, CEO Neil Kiefer stated that the chain has worked to re-establish itself as a neighborhood destination after private equity firms took over certain locations following a 2001 intellectual property sale. Kiefer, who joined Hooters at its inception in 1983 and took over as CEO in 1992, noted that current efforts aim to realign the brand with its original casual dining atmosphere.
Production Timeline and Release Details
Pre-production for the independent feature is underway, with casting efforts led by Catherine Stroud.
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