Val Kilmer Voiced KITT in ‘Knight Rider’ Reboot

Glen A. Larson's 1982 action series 'Knight Rider' centered on a police detective named Michael Long who survives a gunshot wound to the face. Rescued by eccentric billionaire Wilton Knight, Long undergoes plastic surgery and assumes a new identity as Michael Knight. He is gifted an AI car named KITT and becomes a secret crimefighter for FLAG. KITT, a modified Pontiac Trans-Am, featured a glowing light on its hood and was instrumental in Michael's missions to apprehend criminals.

'Knight Rider' was a massive success, airing 90 episodes over four seasons. Its popularity led to multiple spin-offs and films, including 'Knight Rider 2000' (1991), 'Knight Rider 2010' (1994), and 'Team Knight Rider' (1997), along with several video games released from 1986 to 2004.

In 2008, a reboot TV movie featuring Hasselhoff reintroduced a new version of KITT, now a Ford Shelby GT500KR capable of transforming into other vehicles. Michael Knight's legacy was passed to his son, Mike, who starred in a spin-off series from 2008 to 2009. In both the new movie and series, KITT was voiced by the late Val Kilmer.

Kilmer voiced KITT in all 17 episodes of the 2008 'Knight Rider' series. William Daniels' original KITT voice was iconic among Gen-X viewers, presenting Kilmer with a significant challenge. Kilmer's performance altered the dynamic, portraying KITT as more of a disapproving mentor to Mike, contrasting the original buddy-cop dynamic between KITT and Michael.

Initially, Will Arnett recorded KITT's dialogue, but Kilmer was later cast, prompting a re-recording of all lines. Arnett's voice was associated with GMC Trucks, making it unsuitable for a Ford vehicle. A 'Knight Rider' movie remains unproduced, but the creators of 'Cobra Kai' are reportedly developing a new spin on the series.