The New ‘Knight Rider’ Movie Needs To Continue One Storyline

Cult-favorite TV series Knight Rider is slated for a big-screen revival, and there is one intriguing storyline from the original show that definitely should be revisited. The team behind Netflix’s Karate Kid reboot, Cobra Kai, is on board to adapt the beloved 1980s property featuring Michael Knight and his car, KITT, into a brand-new movie, and they will have a wealth of fascinating lore to draw inspiration from. One of the most interesting plots from the original Knight Rider is the tale of Garthe Knight — not only an evil version of Michael, but the original owner of the series hero’s face!

Michael Knight’s Evil Twin, Garthe, Would Be a Devilishly Fun Addition to the ‘Knight Rider’ Movie

It all started back in the Knight Rider pilot episode “Knight of the Phoenix,” when LAPD Detective Lieutenant Michael Long (portrayed by actor Larry Anderson with his voice dubbed by David Hasselhoff) was shot in the face while on an undercover assignment. Wilton Knight, founder of both Knight Industries and the Foundation for Law and Government (FLAG), had Long’s face surgically altered, giving him the new identity of Michael Knight and possession of the intelligent talking car, KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand). There is just one catch: the face Michael received is identical (except for a sinister mustache) to that of Wilton’s evil illegitimate son, Garthe. David Hasselhoff, of course, portrays both Michael and Garthe.

Clearly, Garthe Knight, who has spent years in an African prison for his wrongdoings, is not happy to discover that there is a do-gooder with his face driving around in a sweet computerized car that his dad created. In the Season 2 premiere of the series, “Goliath,” Garthe breaks out of jail and has acquired a giant, deadly truck protected with the same molecular-bonded shell technology as KITT. Hasselhoff delightfully chews the scenery as the villainous Garthe, and yes, there are various cheesy scenes where both versions of the actor seemingly interact with each other face-to-face (a piece of cake, perhaps, for the actor who once broke a record for being the most-watched man on television).

Garthe and his truck, Goliath, later in the season appear in the aptly named “Goliath Returns,” but unfortunately, both apparently meet a deadly end when they drive off a cliff. While Garthe is briefly mentioned in Season 4, and has found a “second” life in a series of Knight Rider video games, including Lego Dimensions, there has been no official continuation of his storyline…though maybe the upcoming movie could change all that.

The Original ‘Knight Rider’ Also Had an Evil KITT as Well

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It should be noted that a separate Knight Rider storyline featured KITT with his own evil twin, which could also be another interesting plot point for the upcoming film to explore. KARR (Knight Automated Roving Robot) made his debut in the ninth episode of Season 1, “Trust Don’t Rust,” as a KITT prototype on display in a museum, which is accidentally brought to life by two car thieves. KARR, tasting sentience once again, does not want to return as a dormant showcase piece and hence goes rogue, trying to outwit Michael Knight and KITT, who are tasked with bringing the errant vehicle back.

Appropriately enough, KARR was voiced by Optimus Prime himself, Peter Cullen, in this episode, making it almost a crossover with fellow ’80s icon The Transformers. KITT would appear in just one more episode, “KITT Vs. KARR,” although interestingly, it would return as Garthe Knight’s vehicle in the PlayStation 2 Knight Rider games.

With such a fascinating backstory from the original series available, it is hoped that some elements will find their way into the new Knight Rider movie. Considering how the Cobra Kai folks have really worked in the old Karate Kid lore into that hit revival, there is a good chance we might see Garthe and perhaps even KARR once again.