Legendary Pictures is bringing Kung Fu to the big screen after acquiring film rights to the 1970s TV program from series creator Ed Spielman.

Variety reports that Legendary has optioned a screenplay from Spielman and Howard Friedlander, also a writer on the original series.

The film is expected to explore the events on which the TV show was based and the origins of the main characters.

David Carradine immortalized the lead role of Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin monk who flees China for the American Wild West, where he helps the powerless.

The original series made its debut in 1972 as a movie of the week on ABC, then ran as a weekly series until 1975.