John Mulaney Tackles Spy Comedy in New ‘Get Smart’ Reboot

It’s not every day you hear a stand‑up comic being courted for a secret‑agent role, but that’s exactly where John Mulaney finds himself these days. Warner Bros. has reportedly begun informal talks with the former SNL writer to front a reboot of the iconic 1960s TV series Get Smart.

Sources close to the project say the studio is looking to blend Mulaney’s trademark dead‑pan delivery with the original’s slap‑stick, gadget‑filled absurdity. Think Agent 99 meets the nervous, joke‑laden narrator who keeps asking, “Would you believe this?” while navigating a world of over‑the‑top espionage.

While nothing’s set in stone, the vibe is clear: the reboot aims to feel fresh, not a mere nostalgic cash‑in. Early pitches suggest a more contemporary setting—perhaps a tech‑obsessed Washington, D.C., where the agency’s gadgets are as much AI‑driven as they are comically unwieldy.

Warner Bros. isn’t the only player excited about the idea. Executives say they’ve already begun scouting writers who can marry Mulaney’s observational humor with the clever wordplay that made the original series a cult favorite. The goal? A series that could sit comfortably beside today’s comedy‑drama hybrids, drawing both longtime fans and a new, younger audience.

If the talks pan out, Mulaney would step into the shoes of Maxwell Smart, the bumbling yet endearing “secret agent” who always seems one step behind his foes—except, in this version, the jokes would be written by the man who made “The Comeback Kid” a household phrase.

For now, the comedy world is waiting with bated breath, wondering whether Mulaney’s brand of humor can translate into the world of spy capers without losing the quirky charm that made the original a classic. One thing’s for sure: if this reboot moves forward, it’s going to be a conversation starter—both in the living room and on the red carpet.