It looks like beloved Reading Rainbow star LeVar Burton's search for the right game show to host after the internet rallied behind him to become a permanent fixture on Jeopardy! has already come to an end. The actor has just signed on to host a game show version of the classic board game Trivial Pursuit, currently in development at Entertainment One (eOne).
"Trivial Pursuit is one of the best-known brands in the gaming universe," Burton said in a statement. "I am thrilled to have partnered with Hasbro and eOne to bring this beloved game to market as a premium show for television."
eOne (owned by Hasbro) and Burton's LeVar Burton Entertainment (LBE) have joined forces to develop the game show and convert Trivial Pursuit for television. Burton will also executive produce the series.
"LeVar Burton has been an iconic member of American pop culture for decades — from Roots to Reading Rainbow to Star Trek and beyond," eOne's Tara Long said of the multi-hyphenate media personality. "His love for intellectual curiosity paired with his ability to connect with audiences worldwide make him the perfect partner to bring Hasbro's beloved trivia game to households in a new and exciting way."
The news comes [via Variety] after the long, passionate campaign led by Burton's fans petitioning for him to host Jeopardy! following the death of long-time host Alex Trebek. Burton eventually had a guest-hosting spot from July 26 to 30, but the full-time gig went to executive producer Mike Richards — before he exited amid backlash to a series of scandals. Now, actor Mayim Bialik and author Ken Jennings are slated to split the hosting duty.
Speaking with Trevor Noah back in September, Burton revealed that he was no longer interested in the once highly coveted position.
"The crazy thing is that when you set your sights on something, you know, they say be careful of what you wish for," he explained, "because what I found out is that it wasn't the thing that I wanted after all."
Fast forward just a couple months, and it seems the Star Trek icon has found exactly what he was looking for with Trivial Pursuit. We really do love to see it.
We can also rest easy knowing that this is also what national treasure Ryan Reynolds — who made sure to weigh in on the Jeopardy! hosting debacle — would want for Burton.
"Trivial Pursuit is one of the best-known brands in the gaming universe," Burton said in a statement. "I am thrilled to have partnered with Hasbro and eOne to bring this beloved game to market as a premium show for television."
eOne (owned by Hasbro) and Burton's LeVar Burton Entertainment (LBE) have joined forces to develop the game show and convert Trivial Pursuit for television. Burton will also executive produce the series.
"LeVar Burton has been an iconic member of American pop culture for decades — from Roots to Reading Rainbow to Star Trek and beyond," eOne's Tara Long said of the multi-hyphenate media personality. "His love for intellectual curiosity paired with his ability to connect with audiences worldwide make him the perfect partner to bring Hasbro's beloved trivia game to households in a new and exciting way."
The news comes [via Variety] after the long, passionate campaign led by Burton's fans petitioning for him to host Jeopardy! following the death of long-time host Alex Trebek. Burton eventually had a guest-hosting spot from July 26 to 30, but the full-time gig went to executive producer Mike Richards — before he exited amid backlash to a series of scandals. Now, actor Mayim Bialik and author Ken Jennings are slated to split the hosting duty.
Speaking with Trevor Noah back in September, Burton revealed that he was no longer interested in the once highly coveted position.
"The crazy thing is that when you set your sights on something, you know, they say be careful of what you wish for," he explained, "because what I found out is that it wasn't the thing that I wanted after all."
Fast forward just a couple months, and it seems the Star Trek icon has found exactly what he was looking for with Trivial Pursuit. We really do love to see it.
We can also rest easy knowing that this is also what national treasure Ryan Reynolds — who made sure to weigh in on the Jeopardy! hosting debacle — would want for Burton.