The hit U.S. TV series Monk is set to return to screens, but this time in India. Monk ran for eight seasons, from 2002 until 2009. The new Indian remake has been picked up by Disney+ Hotstar. According to Deadline, this is the only other adaptation so far about this detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder in South Asia.
The Indian streamer Disney+ Hotstar has been given the green light to start a new deal between Banijay Asia and NBCUniversal Formats, a Universal International Studios division. This agreement will see iconic shows being remade for the Indian market.
When the show aired, it was originally on the USA Network. The show later turned into a movie, Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie. The movie follows the same concept of detective Adrian Monk, portrayed by Tony Shalhoub (Men in Back, The Man Who Wasn’t There), and his assistants Sharona Fleming, portrayed by Bitty Schram (A League of Their Own, The Pallbearer) and Natalie Teeger portrayed by Traylor Howard (Two Guys and A Girl, Bram and Alice). They work on unconventional cases on the show with the San Francisco Police Department.
The Indian remake comes after the Turkish and original ones. This version of the show is licensed globally by NBCUniversal. The Disney+ Hotstar deal aims to have a stronger agreement between Banijay Asia and NBCU to create more Indian version spinoffs from big U.S. shows. Some may include Suits, House, Saturday Night Live and Top Chef.”
“Monk is an exciting fit for our platform, with its captivating mix of humor, mystery, and emotional depth. We have attempted to make this adaptation feel rooted and Indian, and thus uniquely fresh for our audiences including those who may have seen the original,” said Sumanta Bose, the Business Head of HSM and Content Disney+ Hotstar (Hindi) via Deadline.”
Ana Langenberg, SVP of Format Sales & Production, NBCUniversal Formats, added via Deadline: “The show’s charm has connected with viewers around the world, and with trusted partners like Banijay Asia & Disney+ Hotstar, we know this adaptation will capture the heart of the original while embracing a new cultural backdrop.
The show was a major hit during the early 2000s. Hopefully, the new vision for the series and the audience it attracts can garner a more diverse fanbase.