'Very Young Frankenstein’ TV Series in the Works

Taika Waititi and some of the team behind the TV version of ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ are involved in the new show, which has a pilot order at FX.

(L to R) Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle in 'Young Frankenstein'. Photo: 20th Century-Fox.

Preview:

A ‘Young Frankenstein’ TV prequel called ‘Very Young Frankenstein’ is in the works.
Taika Waititi, Stefani Robinson and Garrett Basch are all in involved.
Mel Brooks has given his blessing to the new potential series.

Put toys away. Leave video games unloaded. And comic books? Fuhgeddaboudit! The new cool IP is clearly Mel Brooks’ back catalogue.

Okay, okay, so not really… But there is a run on sequels, and now prequels to Brooks’ work of late.

We’ve already seen ‘History of the World: Part II’ as a comedy limited series, a ‘Spaceballs’ follow-up movie is in pre-production and now per Deadline, comes word that a prequel/reboot TV spin-off for ‘Young Frankenstein’ called ‘Very Young Frankenstein’ has just landed a pilot order at FX.

All together now: “It’s aliiive!!”

Young Frankenstein

"The scariest comedy of all time!"

PG1 hr 46 minDec 15th, 1974

A young neurosurgeon inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. In the castle he finds a funny hunchback, a pretty lab assistant... Read the Plot

Bringing the new show to life is a team that knows a little something about creating a successful small screen spin-off from a comedy film –– ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ co-writer/director/actor Taika Waititi is involved alongside Stefani Robinson and Garrett Basch, who served as writer/producers on the show that followed the 2015 movie.

What was the story of ‘Young Frankenstein’?

(L to R) Teri Garr, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, and Marty Feldman in 'Young Frankenstein'. Photo: 20th Century-Fox.

Brooks’ 1974 horror-comedy starred Gene Wilder (who co-wrote the screenplay with the director) as Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of mad scientist Victor Frankenstein –– the younger Frankenstein pronounces the family name as “Fronkensteen,” to distinguish himself from his ancestor, whose unorthodox experiments have brought the American scientist shame.

When Frederick inherits his grandfather’s Transylvania castle, he wants to prove Victor was not insane. Alongside Igor (pronounced as “Eye-gore”), whose grandfather assisted Victor in the lab, the pair attempts to save the muddied Frankenstein name by creating their own monster. What could go wrong?

The movie also stars Peter Boyle as the monster, Marty Feldman as Igor, Cloris Leachman as Frau Blücher, Madeline Kahn as Frederick’s fiancée and Teri Garr as Inga. Brooks played multiple characters, including voicing Victor Frankenstein.

What’s happening with ‘Very Young Frankenstein’?

Gene Wilder in 'Young Frankenstein'. Photo: 20th Century-Fox.

There are no details as to how the new show will spin off from the movie, but the title suggests turning the clock back to the earlier days of Frederick. Perhaps a college comedy?

Waititi, of course, worked with movie co-creator Jemaine Clement bring ‘What We Do in the Shadows,’ the story of vampire roommates in New Zealand to the US with the FX spin-off that ran between 2019 and 2024, scoring acclaim and plenty of award nominations.

‘Shadows’ veteran Robinson will be showrunner and head writer on the ‘Frankenstein’ show with Basch as an executive producer. And right now, it only has a pilot order, so we’ll see if this one makes it to series.