Get ready for a spicy trip down memory lane: the story behind the iconic Hooters restaurant chain is coming to the big screen.
Hooters: The Movie is currently in development and is being independently produced by the restaurant chain’s original founding partners. Emmy-nominated filmmaker Jon Rosenbaum, whose credits include Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp and Benchwarmers 2: Breaking Balls, is set to direct from a screenplay written by Ed Droste, Phil Olson and Chuck Melcher. Casting is already underway, with Lisa London and Catherine Stroud of London/Stroud Casting leading the process.
Inspired by the real events surrounding Hooters’ creation, the film follows lifelong friends Ted and Lenny, two small-town Iowa guys who unexpectedly find themselves at the center of a growing restaurant empire — and eventually facing a threat from the federal government.
The story kicks off when Ted becomes fascinated by Diane after spotting her in a spring break commercial. Determined to track her down, he convinces his reluctant best friend Lenny to hit the road for Clearwater Beach, Florida. Diane would ultimately become the first-ever Hooters Girl.
Droste, who co-founded Hooters and is also producing the movie, says audiences will get an entertaining look at how the restaurant began.
“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.”
According to Droste, the movie will balance drama and comedy while highlighting the people and culture that helped make Hooters a household name.
Rosenbaum was similarly drawn to the unusual story behind the brand, describing the project as a mix of buddy comedy and inspirational biopic.
“Two lifelong friends with no idea what they’re getting themselves into, a crazy idea they’re willing to bet everything on, and a wild journey that culminates in the creation of something bigger than they could ever have imagined.”
The filmmaker also teased that the movie may not be quite what audiences expect — while emphasizing that much of the story is based on actual events.
Production is currently being targeted for November, with filming expected to take place primarily around the Tampa and Clearwater area of Florida. That location holds particular significance: the original Hooters restaurant opened there in 1983.
If everything stays on schedule, audiences could soon see the unlikely — and very colorful — story of how a few friends turned a crazy idea into one of America’s most recognizable restaurant brands.
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
- Socials: @frazer.live
- @neill.outloud
