Disney+ has greenlit a pilot for a reimagined Holes series, offering a fresh take on Louis Sachar’s 1998 novel. This new adaptation puts a female lead at the heart of the story, with Alina Mankin penning the script and Liz Phang serving as showrunner.
The original Holes follows Stanley Yelnats, an unlucky boy wrongfully sent to Camp Green Lake, where juvenile detainees dig holes under the watchful eye of a ruthless Warden. However, this updated version shifts the focus to a teenage girl navigating the harsh realities of a detention camp, where digging holes hides a mysterious agenda.
The series is produced by Walden Media, which also brought the 2003 film adaptation to life. Drew Goddard, Sarah Esberg, and Mike Medavoy join Mankin and Phang as executive producers, with 20th Television as the studio.
The 2003 movie, directed by Andrew Davis, became a box office success, earning $71 million globally on a $20 million budget. It starred Shia LaBeouf as Stanley, alongside an ensemble cast that included Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight, Patricia Arquette, Tim Blake Nelson, Dulé Hill, and Eartha Kitt. The film earned praise for capturing Sachar’s unique storytelling, with the author himself adapting the screenplay.
This pilot marks a new chapter for Holes, maintaining its core themes of mystery and personal growth while introducing new layers through a modern lens. Fans of the novel and newcomers alike can anticipate a compelling reimagining of this iconic tale.