TV Show Official WebsiteI loved "I Dream of Jeannie." In 2004 it was announced that the Kenyan-born British Director, producer and writer of Indian heritage Gurinder Chadha of Bend It Like Beckham was to helm a film adaptation of "I Dream of Jeannie." She is now attached to adapt "Dallas."
Countingdown.com News Article 2004Chadha says, "She's a Muslim girl, and the story is about Muslims." "The notion of women in burkas on a big Hollywood screen is pretty radical." She also says, "She is a young woman who understands her self-worth and has grand ambition back in a time when women weren't supposed to have any ambition," said Ganis. "The astronaut Tony Nelson will be there along with characters recognizable from the show. But there are surprises and a unique and original setting." Then in IndiaGlitz.com 2005, she says: "That's been put on hold. I'm re-writing the script, changing the stress and accents from the original television serial to suit these times."
Wikipedia says that according to some sources, Chadha lost the job because of her lack of knowledge of the show. "Chadha suggested a possible story line which would be somewhat darker than the original series, with Jeannie as a headstrong girl who is punished for becoming a soldier by being imprisoned in a bottle as a genie. As Columbia Pictures began to see the direction Chadha was going it is rumored they cancelled that idea and told her to create a story line more closely relating to the original show. Upon her incapability to do so Columbia released Chadha from her contract on I Dream of Jeannie." But as suspected, the Wikipedia article doesn't give any links or sources. I looked and looked but couldn't find anything saying that she was released. I have only found "she's attached."
