As the Hooters restaurant franchise struggles in real life, its prospects in the entertainment industry are evidently just getting started.
The restaurant that specializes in… chicken wings used to stand as an invincible staple of American casual dining. Hell, Hooters even had their own airline for a short period of time. For quite some time, the sky was quite literally the limit for the restaurant brand.
But in recent years, the franchise faced a decline in customers and liquidity issues – and dozens of locations across the United States started shuttering (not even the Augusta, Georgia location was safe). It didn’t take long for the restaurant chain to file for bankruptcy, and for the surviving locations to try and figure out a rebrand of sorts.
That’s all taken place in the past couple of years, and that’s why the announcement of a Hooters origin movie feels like it comes at a strange time. One would have assumed that a film about the restaurant would have come out when the franchise was still at its peak. Instead, there’s barely any locations hanging on… and now is the time for Hooters to hit the silver screen?
Deadline confirmed that the movie is in the works with with Emmy nominated filmmaker Jon Rosenbaum set to direct. The outlet describes the plot for “Hooters: The Movie” as the following:
“Based on the real events behind Hooters’ founding, ‘Hooters: The Movie’ centers on Ted and Lenny, two lifelong friends from a small-town in Iowa who accidentally launch a national restaurant empire, only to find everything they built threatened by the federal government.
The adventure begins when Ted becomes infatuated with Diane, whom he first sees from afar when featured in a spring break commercial. Determined to find her in real life, Ted talks a hesitant Lenny into joining him on a road trip to Clearwater Beach, Florida. Diane would later become the very first Hooters Girl.”
I knew the movie industry was really trying to lean into existing IP for ideas, but I don’t think I ever would have imagined “Hooters: The Movie” coming from that.
But hey… maybe this is exactly what the doctor ordered for the struggling franchise. Ed Droste, Hooters Co-Founder and one of the producers on the upcoming film, thinks the movie is going to offer up a lot of heart, drama and comedy to audiences unfamiliar with the restaurant’s origin:
“I think people are going to enjoy watching how we were really just some guys who didn’t know what we were doing, but had a great time doing it. There’s a lot of drama, but a lot of heart and fun too. And of course, our world-famous Hooters Girls are the real stars. For over 40 years Hooters has been America’s oasis in good times and bad. It’s time to deliver a taste of our big hearted culture and famous humor to the world.”
“Big hearted culture” is an interesting way of putting it.
Rosenbaum, who has previously directed movies like Benchwarmers 2: Breaking Balls and Woody Woodpecker Goes To Camp, believes that the film and its story he’s set to direct could deliver the buddy comedy that everyone has been waiting for:
“From the moment I first learned the Hooters origin story, I knew it would make an incredible movie. It’s the perfect combination of a hilarious buddy comedy and an inspiring biopic for a beloved American brand: Two lifelong friends with no idea what they’re getting themselves into, a crazy idea they’re willing to bet everything on, and a wild journey that culminates in the creation of something bigger than they could ever have imagined. It’s not at all what people will be expecting – and it’s mostly true! I can’t wait to bring this story to life.”
I just can’t believe that “Hooters: The Movie” is something that is actually happening.
Production is set to start this November, and fans are already voicing who they think would be the perfect actress to play Dianne. I’m sure you can already guess who is being fan-casted for that role:
Someone get Sydney Sweeney on the phone
— Cleon Lover (@residentrequim) August 28, 2026
Will Sydney sweeney be in it? Asking for a friend
— Wayne Phantom (@BayHarborDexx) August 28, 2026
The most obvious Sydney Sweeney movie
— kabir (@kingarthur6r) August 28, 2026
Of course, she famously played the Hooters role during an episode of Saturday Night Live a couple years back:
