Comedian John Mulaney is in early negotiations to headline a reboot of Get Smart for Warner Bros., according to sources familiar with the project. The deal is not yet finalized, but the actor’s potential casting would place him in the iconic trench coat of Maxwell Smart, the bumbling analyst turned field agent first made famous by Don Adams in the 1960s television series.
Mulaney, best known for his stand-up specials and his work as a writer and producer on shows like Saturday Night Live, has been slowly building a film career in recent years. He has voiced characters in animated hits such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel, and he starred in the 2023 comedy Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. A live-action leading role in a studio franchise would mark a significant step up, though his quick wit and everyman demeanor align neatly with the character’s blend of ineptitude and accidental heroism.
The original Get Smart feature, released in 2008, was directed by Peter Segal and starred Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart, with Anne Hathaway as Agent 99. That film, which ran 110 minutes, followed the plot of the original series closely: when the criminal syndicate KAOS attacks the U.S. spy agency Control and exposes the identities of its secret agents, the Chief - played by Alan Arkin - promotes the eager but hopeless analyst Maxwell Smart to field agent status. Smart is paired with the seasoned and highly capable Agent 99, the only operative whose cover remains intact, and the two must work together to stop KAOS’s global domination schemes and its cunning operative Siegfried, portrayed by Terence Stamp in the 2008 version.
That film boasted a stacked supporting cast, including Dwayne Johnson as Agent 23, James Caan as the President, Bill Murray as Agent 13, and Patrick Warburton as Hymie. It earned a TMDb rating of 6.217 out of 10 and an IMDb score of 6.5 out of 10, indicating a moderately positive reception from audiences and critics alike. The movie was released on June 19, 2008, and was classified under the genres of action, comedy, and thriller.
The reboot has been in development at Warner Bros. for some time, with the studio reportedly looking to revive the property for a new generation. Details about who will direct or write the new film remain scarce, and no other cast members have been attached to the project at this stage. It is also unclear whether the new version will follow the same structure as the Carell film or take a fresh approach to the source material, which originally ran as a television comedy from 1965 to 1970 and has been adapted in various forms over the decades.
Mulaney’s involvement, should the deal close, would bring a distinctly modern comedic voice to the role. Unlike Carell, who leaned into the character’s physical clumsiness and deadpan confusion, Mulaney’s style tends to be more verbal and neurotic, rooted in anxious observation and self-deprecating humor. That could give Maxwell Smart a different energy, one that might resonate with audiences familiar with Mulaney’s stand-up persona of a fast-talking, perpetually worried man who nonetheless manages to land on his feet.
The actor’s career in film has been selective, but he has shown range beyond comedy. He has appeared in dramatic cameos on television and has voiced characters that require emotional depth alongside humor. His role as Spider-Man’s nemesis in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse demonstrated an ability to play a character who is both menacing and absurd, which suggests he could handle the dual tone of Get Smart, a series that always balanced slapstick with genuine spy-thriller stakes.
The original 2008 movie took a similar approach, pairing action sequences with broad comedy. Carell’s Maxwell Smart was a man who talked his way out of situations as often as he fought his way through them, and the film’s plot leaned heavily on the dynamic between his chaotic inexperience and Hathaway’s cool professionalism. A reboot would need to recapture that chemistry, likely with a new actress taking on the role of Agent 99, though no names have been discussed publicly yet.
Warner Bros. has not issued a formal comment on the negotiations, and Mulaney’s representatives have also remained silent. It is possible that the project could shift behind the scenes before an official announcement is made, as is common in Hollywood deal-making. However, the studio’s interest in Mulaney signals a desire to keep the property rooted in smart, character-driven comedy rather than leaning purely into action spectacle.
If the deal goes through, production would likely not begin until late 2026 or early 2027, given that Mulaney has other commitments, including tour dates and potential television work. The studio has yet to set a release date for the reboot, but with the rights secured and a star in talks, the project appears to be moving forward after years of stalled development.
For fans of the original series, the choice of Mulaney is an intriguing one. Adams’s portrayal of Maxwell Smart was defined by his catchphrases and his ability to misread every situation, and Carell brought his own brand of lovable obliviousness to the role in 2008. Mulaney would be the third major actor to step into the suit, and his interpretation is likely to be just as distinct. Whether audiences embrace that new take remains to be seen, but the comedian’s track record with sharp, literate humor suggests he could bring a fresh angle to a character that has proven remarkably durable over the past half-century.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
