Dan Aykroyd to Develop 'Blues Brothers' Animated Series

Universal Pictures

Bento Box Entertainment will develop and produce “The Blues Brothers” as a new primetime animated comedy series with Dan Aykroyd attached as co-creator and executive producer, the company announced Tuesday

Along with Aykroyd, John Belushi‘s widow, Judy, and Emmy Award-winning original “Saturday Night Live” writer Anne Beatts will serve as co-creators and executive producers on the project.

The series chronicles the music, mayhem and comedy adventures of Jake and Elwood Blues, along with the characters within their master blues band. The boys take their act on the road and back to that same old place, sweet home Chicago.

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Music will also be a main character within the new series. Each episode will feature a score and soundtrack curated with the soul, blues and R&B classics and hits performed by the original legendary musicians, the Blues Brothers, as well as new performances recorded specifically for the show. The series will also highlight special guest appearances from aspiring talent, treasured blues legends and superstars from today’s music world.

Aykroyd, Belushi and Beatts brought the project to Bento Box Entertainment, the studio best known for producing young adult-targeted primetime animated series like “Bob’s Burgers.” Bento Box’s Scott Greenberg and Joel Kuwahara, Rehab Entertainment’s John W. Hyde and Blues Brothers’ manager Eric Gardner will also executive produce.

“It’s so great to accelerate Jake and Elwood at digital speed into the 21st Century via the outstanding creative group at Bento Box,” Aykroyd said. “The show will be the Blues Brothers living in America and utilizing all new technology to make and promote their own records, seek out and record new artists and avoid law enforcement — and all while fighting for truth, justice and a better breakfast sandwich.”

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After debuting as the musical guests in a 1978 “Saturday Night Live” episode hosted by Steve Martin, Martin asked Aykroyd (Elwood) and partner John Belushi (Jake) to serve as the opening act at his upcoming show at the Universal Amphitheater. This set in motion a series of events that led to an Atlantic Records recording contract and the hiring of then-SNL piano man Paul Shaffer as musical director.

Together, the trio painstakingly selected the perfect band to create the sound they wanted; Stax recording stars Steve Cropper and Donald “Duck ” Dunn, blues legend Matt “Guitar” Murphy and drummer extraordinaire Steve Jordan became the backbone of the band. For that big horn sound, they turned to the multi-talented Tom Scott and three of the top horns: Tom Malone, Lou Marini and Al Rubin.

Their debut album, “Briefcase Full of Blues,” recorded live on that tour, sold more than 3.5 million copies. In 1980, the John Landis-directed film, “The Blues Brothers” hit theaters, grossing more than $100 million worldwide.

Following Belushi’s death in 1982, Aykroyd was determined to keep the Blues Brothers’ spirit alive. In 1992, he and Judy Belushi co-founded The House of Blues franchise with Hard Rock Cafe founder Issac Tigrett, which grew to a dozen venues across the country before being sold to Live Nation in 2006.

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Bento Box plans to shop “The Blues Brothers” to television platforms starting in May. The company is represented by WME and Ziffren Brittenham.

'SNL's' 40 Most Iconic Characters: From the Blues Brothers to Stefon (Photos)

Spartan Cheerleaders: Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri got spirit, how 'bout you?
Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Alger (Dana Carvey): Party time, excellent.
MacGruber (Will Forte): Makin' life-saving inventions out of household materials!
The Blues Brothers, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd: Two soul men.
Stefon: Bill Hader never could keep a straight face as "Weekend Update's" New York City nightlife correspondent.
Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party: Cecily Strong's breakout character went away temporarily when she co-anchored "Weekend Update" for a season.
"Dick in a Box" guys: You better hope that Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake aren't your Secret Santas.
The Church Lady: Dana Carvey's character on making this list: "Well isn't that special?"
Matt Foley: Chris Farley's character may be iconic, but he still "LIVES IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!"
Sarah Palin (Tina Fey): Did this spot-on impression save "SNL" during a down period? "You betcha!"
Roseanne Roseannadanna (Gilda Radner): "Weekend Update's" consumer affairs reporter had as much distaste for New Jersey as Richard Feder has questions.
Debbie Downer: Rachel Dratch's best character would surely find SOMETHING miserable about being considered one of the show's 40 most iconic.
Mary Katherine Gallagher: We know, Molly Shannon -- you're a superstar. So stop being so nervous all the time.
Haray Caray (Will Ferrell): "Cubs win! Cubs win!" PS, Wrap readers: If you were a hot dog, would you eat yourself?
Land Shark: Chevy Chase's deadly predator was most definitely NOT a dolphin, ma'am.
Roxbury guys: Before their movie, Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan clubbed hard on "SNL." One of their best sketches included host Jim Carrey.
(It's) Pat: Never before has androgyny been so much fun. PS: Pat was played by a lady, Julia Sweeney, if you didn't know.
The Ambiguously Gay Duo: Ace and Gary oftentimes found themselves in ... precarious ... situations. Now what is everyone looking at?
Stuart Smalley: Al Franken's "Daily Affirmations" character made our list because he's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggone it, people like him.
Dooneese: Kristen Wiig's "Lawrence Welk Show" character isn't much to look at, but she also can't sing at all.
Killer Bees: The Killer Bees have the distinction of being the first recurring characters on "Saturday Night Live" -- and they came back A LOT, mostly to spite network brass.
"Celebrity Jeopardy!" gang: You can't pick one: Alex Trebek (Will Ferrell), Burt Reynolds (Norm Macdonald) and Sean Connery (Darrell Hammond) were magic when they got together.
Gumby: Eddie Murphy is Gumby, damnit! Sorry Pokey, you didn't make the cut.
The Ladies Man: Tim Meadows' character liked the fairer sex even more than he dug Courvoisier -- and we loved him for that.
The Gap Girls: Chris Farley, David Spade and Adam Sandler always had fun when they got together. Add cross-dressing and mall food court gossip and it gets even better.
The Festrunk Brothers: Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd's "Wild and Crazy Guys" birthed those Roxbury guys we talked about earlier. Know your history, kids!
Bill Swerski's Superfans: These Chicago sports fans love Da Bulls and Da Bears as much as they love bear and Polish sausage. Seen here with their cherished Michael Jordan.
The Continental: Christopher Walken's recurring character was really forward with the ladies. He may have lacked game, but was never short on ascots.
Hans and Franz: The Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon duo were here to pump people up way before Aaron Rodgers and State Farm Insurance ever entered the power-lifting fray.
Samurai Futaba: John Belushi's samurai skills didn't translate to many other professions, most-notably working as an accountant and in a delicatessen.
Coneheads: The Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman family were not of this Earth -- and you would have never noticed if not for their accents.
Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer: Ladies and gentlemen, this classic Phil Hartman character was just a caveman -- things in our modern world frighten and confuse him.
Richard Layer: Rob Schneider's Richmeister was thrilled anytime someone in his office needed to use the Xerox machine. He had as many nicknames for his colleagues as they made copies.
Father Guido Sarducci: Don Novello was a writer for "SNL," where he famously brought the chain-smoking, tinted-glasses-wearing priest. Though the show popularized the character, it wasn't the origination point for Father Guido.
Jack Handey: Jack Handey was the real name of a real "Saturday Night Live" writer who had real funny "Deep Thoughts" during the 1990s.
George W. Bush (Will Ferrell): "SNL" was carried for several years by Ferrell, whose George W. Bush impersonation was so popular that he scored a successful and critically acclaimed one-man show on Broadway.
Mister Robinson: Eddie Murphy's play on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" was meant for adult audiences. Where Rogers' town was lovely in every way, Robinson's was terrifying, but incredibly funny.
Robert Goulet (Will Ferrell): Ferrell's Goulet was completely ridiculous -- complete with a catchphrase of just exclaiming "Goulet!" at random times to punctuate a sentence. It was also hilarious, handing Ferrell another well-deserved spot on this Top 40 list.
Irwin Mainway: Dan Aykroyd's sleazy salesman would do anything for a buck -- even it involved selling a Bag O'Glass to children at Christmastime. That kind of dedication qualifies Mainway as an icon in our eyes.
Mr. Bill: The clay character was constantly in danger over the course of his 20-plus show appearances. It's currently unclear if the figure lived long enough to come back for "SNL 40."