Imagine being a top-tier voice actor, known for bringing iconic characters to life, only to be sidelined by a corporate sponsorship deal. That’s exactly what happened to Will Arnett, a name synonymous with comedic genius and voice acting mastery. While Arnett’s talent has landed him roles like Gob Bluth in Arrested Development and Vernon Fenwick in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, there’s one legendary character he was forced to give up—and it wasn’t because of his skill. But here’s where it gets controversial: Arnett had already voiced the iconic talking car K.I.T.T. in the 2008 reboot of Knight Rider when a conflict of interest slammed the brakes on his involvement.
Here’s the backstory: NBC’s reboot of the 1980s classic featured Justin Hartley (later of This Is Us fame) as the human lead, replacing David Hasselhoff. Arnett was set to voice K.I.T.T., originally brought to life by William Daniels. But just weeks before the air date, General Motors caught wind of Arnett’s role. The issue? Arnett had been the voice of GMC Trucks for years, and K.I.T.T. was a Ford Mustang. Talk about a clash of brands! Despite his enthusiasm for the role, Arnett had no choice but to step down, leaving fans to wonder what could have been.
And this is the part most people miss: Arnett’s departure led to one of the most unexpected casting decisions in TV history. None other than Val Kilmer stepped in to voice K.I.T.T., adding a new layer of intrigue to the reboot. Arnett gracefully bowed out, stating, ‘I was very excited to play K.I.T.T., but my long-standing relationship with General Motors left me no choice but to withdraw.’ (via Variety).
Now, let’s be clear: missing out on K.I.T.T. didn’t derail Arnett’s career. Far from it. He remains one of the most sought-after voice actors in the industry, delivering everything from Batman’s iconic growl in The Lego Movie to the emotionally complex BoJack Horseman in Netflix’s acclaimed series. He even lent his voice to the killer clown Sweet Tooth in Twisted Metal, proving his versatility knows no bounds. K.I.T.T. would’ve been a cool addition to his resume, but Arnett’s success clearly didn’t depend on it.
As for the Knight Rider reboot? It spawned a short-lived TV series with Kilmer continuing as K.I.T.T.’s voice (uncredited), but the show fizzled out after one season. So, was General Motors’ intervention justified, or did it rob fans of a potentially legendary performance? Let’s debate in the comments—did Arnett’s GMC ties rightfully take precedence, or should artistic freedom have won out? And while we’re at it, who do you think would’ve made the better K.I.T.T.: Arnett or Kilmer?
