Home Movie: The Princess Bride

Lore & Background

Jason Reitman conceived the idea in March 2020, early in the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, as a way to remake the 1987 film The Princess Bride with actors performing in their own homes. He saw it as a means to raise money for World Central Kitchen to support struggling restaurants. Reitman spoke with Jeffrey Katzenberg, who made a million-dollar donation to the charity and arranged for the series to stream on Quibi. Reitman created a proof-of-concept scene with himself and his daughter, then gained approval from Norman Lear and the estate of William Goldman. He also secured rights to the film's score from Mark Knopfler.

Reader's Guide

Home Movie: The Princess Bride stands as a unique artifact of pandemic-era creativity, demonstrating how constraints of isolation and limited resources could yield a collaborative, DIY remake of a beloved film. Its significance lies in its charitable purpose—raising funds for World Central Kitchen—and in its assembly of a large ensemble cast, many of whom performed multiple roles. The series also marks the final screen appearance of Carl Reiner, adding a poignant layer to its legacy. By premiering on Quibi, it exemplified the short-form streaming model of the time. The production's homemade aesthetic, from LEGO sets to a dog standing in for a giant rodent, underscores its playful, fan-driven spirit. While not a critical landmark, it remains a notable example of how the entertainment industry adapted to the pandemic, and it preserves a final performance from a comedy legend.

Did You Know?

• The series was filmed by actors at their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, with each actor providing their own props and costumes.
• Fred Savage is the only actor from the original 1987 film to reprise his original role, playing the grandson.
• Carl Reiner recorded his scene earlier in June 2020 and died on June 29, 2020; his final screen performance was in the 2020 film 'The Last Laugh' (released in 2019 on Netflix).
• Special effects included a LEGO miniature set and Sophie Turner's corgi representing an R.O.U.S.