Police Academy (franchise)

Films

''Police Academy'' (1984)

Main article: Police Academy (film)

Police Academy was released in 1984 and directed by Hugh Wilson. The film has a newly elected female mayor announcing a policy requiring the police department to accept all willing recruits. The movie followed a group of misfit recruits in their attempts to prove themselves capable of being police officers and their adventures at the police academy.

''Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment'' (1985)

Main article: Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment

In Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, the newly graduated cadets are sent to one of the worst precincts in the city to improve the conditions. Lt. Mauser undermines their attempts so he can get Capt. Lassard fired and get the position in charge.

''Police Academy 3: Back in Training'' (1986)

Main article: Police Academy 3: Back in Training

Police Academy 3: Back in Training was released in 1986, and like its predecessor, was directed by Jerry Paris. When the governor of the state announces that budget cuts necessitate the closure of the worst of the two police academies, the officers of the Metropolitan Police Academy, led by Commandant Lassard, work on ensuring it is not theirs. This is hindered by their unusual gang of new cadets.

''Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol'' (1987)

Main article: Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, released in 1987 and directed by Jim Drake, involves new recruits being brought in when the officers work with a newly formed Citizens on Patrol group. Harris and Proctor are in charge, though, and plan to dismantle the program. Citizens on Patrol was the final film starring Guttenberg.

''Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach'' (1988)

Main article: Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach

Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach, released in 1988, was directed by Alan Myerson. The plot involves the officers attending a police convention in Florida to honor Commandant Eric Lassard as police officer of the decade, wherein he inadvertently switches his sports bag with that of a group of jewel thieves. The thieves try to get it back.

''Police Academy 6: City Under Siege'' (1989)

Main article: Police Academy 6: City Under Siege

The sixth installment, Police Academy 6: City Under Siege, directed by Peter Bonerz, was released in 1989. When the city suffers from a dangerous set of crimes by a gang of jewel thieves, the Metropolitan Police Academy graduates are brought in to do something about it.

''Police Academy: Mission to Moscow'' (1994)

Main article: Police Academy: Mission to Moscow

Police Academy: Mission to Moscow, released in 1994 and directed by Alan Metter, involved the officers going to Russia to help catch an international crime figure.

Future

A franchise reboot has been in various stages of development hell since September 2003, when the eighth Police Academy film was announced with a tentative release scheduled for 2007. The studio acknowledged the franchise's return after more than thirteen years of absence, Paul Maslansky stated, "I felt it was time to start again. I saw that Starsky & Hutch and a number of other revivals were doing really well. Police Academy has such a great history, so I thought, 'Why not?'" with most of the main cast members set to return. Hugh Wilson was later slated to direct. Leslie Easterbrook (Capt. Debbie Callahan) and Marion Ramsey (Sgt. Laverne Hooks) mentioned that filming for the next Police Academy film was scheduled to commence principal photography mid-2006 to meet its 2007 release. The film was suspended in October 2006, at which point Easterbrook mentioned that the project may be repurposed as a direct-to-DVD sequel. She added that though Warner Bros. wanted to do a new film, they wanted a producer to get independent financing.

In May 2008, Michael Winslow replied to a question about a possible new Police Academy film: "Anything's possible. You've got to hope for Paul Maslansky and those folks over there to put it together. It's up to them. It would be great to see everyone again." In November of the same year, Steve Guttenberg (Sgt. Carey Mahoney) confirmed that 8 was still in development and that he was working on the script with Warner Bros. Guttenberg is slated to direct the film, and stated that all living cast members from the previous installments would return to reprise their roles.

In March 2010, New Line announced plans to revive the Police Academy franchise, with a new film in development with Paul Maslansky attached as filmmaker. Maslansky stated, "It's going to be very worthwhile to the people who remember it and to those who saw it on TV ... It's going to be a new class. We hope to discover new talent and season it with great comedians. It'll be anything but another movie with a numeral next to it. And we'll most probably retain the wonderful musical theme." Later that month, the filmmaker stated that he plans to bring back some of the original cast to train the new recruits. While appearing as a guest on the July 12, 2010, edition of This Morning, Michael Winslow (Sgt. Larvell Jones) confirmed that Police Academy 8 was in active development. In August 2010, Steve Guttenberg revealed a script was being written by David Diamond and David Weissman. In August 2010, actor Bobcat Goldthwait (Officer Zed) released a statement urging Hollywood to reboot the Police Academy series with a new group of actors instead of the original cast members. Goldthwait confirmed that Steve Guttenberg would return and that movie bosses were trying to get Kim Cattrall and Sharon Stone to return for an eighth film, though Goldthwait said he had no desire to return to the series.

By January 2012, New Line Cinema announced that Scott Zabielski would replace Maslansky as the director of the upcoming film. Later in March of the same year, Michael Winslow stated that production of the eighth film tentatively scheduled to commence that November, and that an offer had been made to Shaquille O'Neal to replace the late Bubba Smith as Hightower. In June 2012, Jeremy Garelick was hired to contribute to a rewrite the aforementioned script. In April 2014, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, from the sketch show Key & Peele were brought in produce the film. Steve Guttenberg shared his excitement with the project in July 2015, as the project was rumored to be titled Police Academy: Next Generation. In April 2016, the two said that the project was still ongoing and that it was going to be influenced by End of Watch and MASH*. They said that the project would be a "funny take on a grounded, real approach as the Key and Peele way", and noted that it would give them access to talk about what was going on in the landscape at the time. After years of delays, Steve Guttenberg announced in September 2018, that the sequel was once again in active development; stating, "the next Police Academy is coming, no details yet, but it is in a gift bag being readied!" In 2021, when asked about an eight film, Guttenberg replied with "I suspect you haven't seen the last of my Mahoney".

Television

''Police Academy: The Animated Series'' (1988–1989)

Main article: Police Academy (TV series)

An animated comedy titled Police Academy, also known as Police Academy: The Animated Series, was produced by Ruby-Spears Productions and Warner Bros. Television. It ran from September 1988 to September 1989, lasting two seasons with 65 episodes produced.

''Police Academy: The Series'' (1997–1998)

Main article: Police Academy: The Series

Police Academy: The Series is a 1997 live-action show based on the films, comprising 26 episodes, each one hour. It was produced by Warner Bros. Television and Protocol Entertainment. Michael Winslow reprised his role from the films, and several others made occasional guest appearances.

Comic books

A six-issue series of Police Academy comic books was produced as a spin-off of the animated series beginning in August 1989. The series was published by Marvel Comics, under a "Star Comics Presents" byline.

The series was written by Angelo DeCesare, pencilled by Howard Post, and inked by Jacqueline Roettcher.

Main cast and characters

Main article: List of Police Academy characters, List of Police Academy cast members

Additional crew and production details

Reception

The films have received overall negative reviews, apart from the first film which had more mixed reviews.

Music

• Police Academy: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
• Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• Police Academy 3: Back in Training (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Other media

Theme park attraction

Main article: Police Academy Stunt Show

Video games

Two aborted attempts at video game adaptations of the franchise were planned, one by Hasbro for the aborted Control-Vision console, developed by Mark Turmell, and the other was an unlicensed NES game by Tengen.

References

References

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3. (September 11, 2003). "Police Academy 8 is in the works". Ain't it Cool.
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5. Morris, Clint. (August 9, 2005). "What's happening with Police Academy 8". Moviehole.
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8. "Police Academy (2007)". Stargater.
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19. Fleming, Mike. (June 5, 2012). "Jeremy Garelick enlists in 'Police Academy' rewrite".
20. Brew, Simon. (June 6, 2012). "Writer hired for new 'Police Academy' movie". Denofgeek.com.
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22. (2015-07-31). "Police Academy remake? Guttenberg approves".
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29. "Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)". American Film Institute.
30. "Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986)". American Film Institute.
31. "Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)". American Film Institute.
32. "Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach (1988)". American Film Institute.
33. "Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)". American Film Institute.
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41. "Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach (1988)". [[Box Office Mojo]].
42. "Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)". [[Box Office Mojo]].
43. "Police Academy 7: Mission to Moscow (1994)". [[Box Office Mojo]].
44. (June 24, 1994). "International: Top grossing films June 16–22".
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52. "Police Academy 4". [[Rotten Tomatoes]].
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55. "Police Academy 5". [[Metacritic]].
56. "Police Academy 6". [[Rotten Tomatoes]].
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58. "Police Academy 7". [[Rotten Tomatoes]].
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62. "NES WORLD Forum – Police Academy for NES?".