# Knight Rider (2008 TV series)
**Knight Rider (2008)** is an American action television series that aired on NBC from 2008 to 2009, a sequel to the 1982–1986 series *Knight Rider*. It follows former Army Ranger Mike Traceur ([Justin Bruening](https://www.edgepedia.org/justin-bruening)), the estranged son of original hero Michael Knight, who drives a new artificially intelligent car, KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand), a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR voiced by [Val Kilmer](https://www.edgepedia.org/val-kilmer).[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/knight_rider_2008) • [2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/451/knight-rider) The show began as a two-hour backdoor pilot movie in February 2008, ran for one season of 17 episodes, and was canceled in May 2009.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213404/faq/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Network and run | NBC, 2008–2009; one season of 17 episodes plus the pilot movie[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/451/knight-rider) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213404/faq/) |
| Pilot movie | Two-hour TV movie aired February 17, 2008; 12.7 million viewers, second only to *Extreme Makeover* that night[4](https://www.tvguide.com/news/ratings-knight-rider-15109/) |
| The car | KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand), an AI Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR that can hack systems, carry jet-fighter-grade weapons, transform into other vehicles, and project holographic imagery[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/451/knight-rider) |
| Voice of KITT | Val Kilmer, replacing Will Arnett, who withdrew over a conflict with his GMC voiceover work[5](https://www.awn.com/news/kilmer-replaces-arnett-knight-riders-kitt) |
| Lead cast | Justin Bruening (Mike Traceur/Mike Knight), Deanna Russo (Sarah Graiman), Sydney Tamiia Poitier (Carrie Rivai), Bruce Davison (Charles Graiman)[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/knight_rider_2008) |
| Reception | Metacritic metascore 21 (generally unfavorable); Rotten Tomatoes 5% from 22 reviews; IMDb 5.6/10 from about 11,000 users[6](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/knight-rider/) • [7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/knight_rider_2008/s01) • [8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213404/ratings/) |
| Cancellation | Announced by NBC in early May 2009 after one season[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213404/faq/) |
## The pilot movie
NBC announced in December 2007 that a two-hour sequel to the 1980s series would debut on February 17, 2008. The movie starred Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, and [Bruce Davison](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruce-davison), with [David Hasselhoff](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-hasselhoff) making a guest appearance as Michael Knight, reprising his original role.[9](https://www.nexttv.com/news/kitt-back-new-knight-rider-debuts-nbc-feb-17-27985) In the film, mercenaries apparently kill the scientist Charles Graiman, actually killing his double before kidnapping him, and his creation, a new artificially intelligent supercar, escapes to find Graiman's daughter and recruit an ex-soldier to stop them.[10](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/knight-rider) • [19](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/knight-rider/details/)
The broadcast performed well enough to justify a series: its audience of 12.7 million viewers was second only to *Extreme Makeover* that Sunday night, and it delivered the best 18-49 numbers of any TV movie since March 2005's *Their Eyes Were Watching God*.[4](https://www.tvguide.com/news/ratings-knight-rider-15109/)
## Production and the car
Ford signed an agreement with NBC to make the [Shelby Mustang](https://www.edgepedia.org/shelby-mustang) the star automobile of the movie and came on as a major sponsor; the original KITT had been a Pontiac Trans Am.[9](https://www.nexttv.com/news/kitt-back-new-knight-rider-debuts-nbc-feb-17-27985) The new KITT is described as equipped with an artificial intelligence capable of hacking almost any system, weapons systems matching those of a jet fighter, and a body able to transform into other vehicles and use holographic imagery to elude villains.[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/451/knight-rider) Common Sense Media's review noted that the transformation effect came straight out of *Transformers*, where it was done better, and that the car is repeatedly and obviously identified as a Ford Mustang GT500KR, with the logo emblazoned on the headrests.[11](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/knight-rider-2008)
**The voice change.** [Will Arnett](https://www.edgepedia.org/will-arnett), originally cast as the voice of KITT, dropped out before the movie aired because GMC, whose commercials he had voiced for a decade, asked him to withdraw once it learned how deeply Ford was involved in the project. Val Kilmer replaced him.[5](https://www.awn.com/news/kilmer-replaces-arnett-knight-riders-kitt)
## Series run and mid-season retooling
NBC picked up the show as a series for the 2008–09 season, and on October 21, 2008 announced a full-season order of nine additional episodes.[12](https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2008/10/21/NBC-orders-full-season-of-Knight-Rider/66761224614576/) The series premiere on September 24, 2008 drew weaker numbers than the movie: 6.7 million viewers and a 2.3/7 share, finishing third in the 18-34 demographic behind Fox's *Bones* and ABC's *Dancing with the Stars* results show.[13](https://www.nexttv.com/news/nbcs-knight-rider-loses-first-race-85215)
With the back half of the season, the show underwent a major revamp announced in November 2008.[14](https://www.tvguide.com/news/knight-rider-undergoing-58336/) Several actors were dismissed and the concept was tweaked to resemble the original series more closely, replacing government-sponsored operations with chance encounters with strangers in need; some commentators called this a reboot of the rebooted show.[15](https://representations.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/IMG/pdf/4-achouche.pdf)
## Reception and cancellation
Critical reception was poor. Metacritic assigned the season a metascore of 21 based on 20 critic reviews, labeled generally unfavorable, with a user score of 5.9.[6](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/knight-rider/) Rotten Tomatoes recorded a 5% Tomatometer score from 22 reviews for the season, with one fresh and 21 rotten.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/knight_rider_2008/s01) On IMDb the series holds a 5.6/10 rating from about 11,000 users.[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213404/ratings/) Common Sense Media called the show flat and uninspired, noting that a talking car seemed less special in an era of cell phones and GPS, and that the series was too racy for children and too poorly made to please old-school fans.[11](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/knight-rider-2008)
NBC announced in early May 2009 that the series would not return and had been canceled after only one season.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213404/faq/) The FAQ also points out a continuity issue that left viewers puzzled: the pilot film discussed bringing back the original show's independently funded Foundation for Law and Government (FLAG), yet the series itself introduced a different organization, the SSC, which was directly linked to the government, offering hardly any explanation.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213404/faq/) [Peter Cullen](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-cullen), who voiced the villainous KARR in the 1980s series, returned to voice the new version of KARR, which was given a transformation mode.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213404/faq/) • [16](https://apnews.com/article/4e85ea7046b8bdb5ddceaef5cbe0a8a2)
## Aftermath
The 2008 series is treated in television scholarship as a remake clearly contextualized within the frame of its 1980s predecessor, whose title itself evokes the original and its era.[15](https://representations.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/IMG/pdf/4-achouche.pdf) The franchise later returned to development as a feature film written by the *Cobra Kai* creators Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald, with Hurwitz and Schlossberg set to direct.[17](https://as.com/meristation/cine/ya-en-marcha-el-reinicio-en-el-cine-de-el-coche-fantastico-a-cargo-de-los-creadores-de-cobra-kai-n/) As of recent listings, neither the 2008 pilot movie nor the series is available on any streaming service, though both can be purchased digitally or on disc.[10](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/knight-rider) • [18](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/knight-rider)
## References
1. [Knight Rider (2008), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/knight_rider_2008)
2. [Knight Rider, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/451/knight-rider)
3. [Knight Rider (TV Series 2008–2009) FAQ, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213404/faq/)
4. [Ratings: Knight Rider on Track for a Series Pickup?, TV Guide, February 19, 2008](https://www.tvguide.com/news/ratings-knight-rider-15109/)
5. [Kilmer Replaces Arnett as Knight Rider's KITT, Animation World Network, February 7, 2008](https://www.awn.com/news/kilmer-replaces-arnett-knight-riders-kitt)
6. [Knight Rider Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/knight-rider/)
7. [Knight Rider: Season 1, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/knight_rider_2008/s01)
8. [Knight Rider (TV Series 2008–2009) Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213404/ratings/)
9. [KITT Is Back: New Knight Rider Debuts on NBC Feb. 17, Broadcasting+Cable, December 13, 2007](https://www.nexttv.com/news/kitt-back-new-knight-rider-debuts-nbc-feb-17-27985)
10. [Knight Rider (2008) streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/knight-rider)
11. [Knight Rider (2008) Parents' Guide, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/knight-rider-2008)
12. [NBC orders full season of 'Knight Rider', UPI, October 21, 2008](https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2008/10/21/NBC-orders-full-season-of-Knight-Rider/66761224614576/)
13. [NBC's Knight Rider Loses First Race, Broadcasting+Cable, 2008](https://www.nexttv.com/news/nbcs-knight-rider-loses-first-race-85215)
14. [Knight Rider Undergoing Major Revamp, TV Guide, November 10, 2008](https://www.tvguide.com/news/knight-rider-undergoing-58336/)
15. [Mehdi Achouche, Making Sense of the Reboot on Television](https://representations.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/IMG/pdf/4-achouche.pdf)
16. [Peter Cullen obituary, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/4e85ea7046b8bdb5ddceaef5cbe0a8a2)
17. [Ya en marcha el reinicio en el cine de 'El coche fantástico', AS, August 2024](https://as.com/meristation/cine/ya-en-marcha-el-reinicio-en-el-cine-de-el-coche-fantastico-a-cargo-de-los-creadores-de-cobra-kai-n/)
18. [Knight Rider (2008 TV series) streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/knight-rider)
19. [Knight Rider details - Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/knight-rider/details/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Adapted and franchise screen series › Reboots, revivals, and spin-off series*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license