Pee Wee Herman Returns In Netflix Bromance ‘Pee Wee’s Big Holiday’

Pee Wee Herman is back after an extended absence in his new Netflix original movie, Pee Wee’s Big Holiday. Fans of Herman would be shocked to know it’s been more than thirty years since we saw Pee Wee travel the United States in search of his beloved bike in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. Though we were still able to get our fix of Herman for several years following that flick as Paul Reubens, the actor who portrays Pee Wee, went on to make the less successful film Big Top Pee Wee in 1988, as well as star in the highly rated and critically acclaimed children’s show Pee Wee’s Playhouse from 1986 to 1991.

According to Buzzfeed, Pee Wee’s Big Holiday is the ultimate bromance movie. Instead of finding adventure while in search of his bike, Pee Wee spends the movie cultivating his friendship with Magic Mike star Joe Manganiello, and Pee Wee fans are elated at the collaboration between Herman’s boyish character combined with Manganiello’s manly charm.

Best bromance ever. #PeeWeesBigHoliday #HappyBirthdayJoe pic.twitter.com/YQ1uwnY5wP

— Garin Pirnia (@gpirnia) March 19, 2016

#PeeWeesBigHoliday a bromance movie.????????????

— Miguel Castañon (@CheeryMickey) March 19, 2016

I love that @JoeManganiello plays his handsome self in #PeeWeesBigHoliday @peeweeherman you still got it.. Har har har

— ?ó?? ????? (@Boogie_mOn) March 19, 2016

Paul Reubens dropped out of the spotlight after a highly publicized arrest for masturbating in an adult theater in July of 1991. According to People, Paul was so humiliated by the publicity of that event that Reubens withdrew from the pubic eye and CBS canceled the five remaining episodes of Pee Wee’s Playhouse as parents struggled to explain the beloved character’s abrupt disappearance from television.

Years later as Reubens tried to move on with his career, he sought roles that stretched his abilities beyond the role of the perpetually child like Pee Wee Herman with films like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Batman Returns, as well as a recurring role on the popular television series Murphy Brown. More recently, Reubens has been linked to Gotham.

An arrest of Paul Reubens in 2002 seemed to put the nail in the coffin for the Pee Wee Herman character. As authorities investigated former Ferris Beuller principal actor Jeffrey Jones for child pornography, Paul was linked to the actor and also accused of being in possession of kiddie porn–a frightening prospect for a man whose Pee Wee Herman character was popular with kids. After further investigation, however, the material in question was determined not to be child pornography and Reubens was able to plead down to a lesser charge.

Paul’s iconic Pee Wee Herman character slowly began to make guest appearances on late night shows such as Conan, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and Comedy Bang Bang. Seeing the opportunity to bring back another nostalgic character, much as they did with shows like Fuller House and the Gilmore Girls reunion, Netflix jumped at the opportunity to produce a new Pee Wee Herman movie adventure.

According to the New York Times, Netflix announced the return of Pee Wee in February of 2015. At the time, the film had been in discussion for nearly five years and Reubens was eager to reprise the role of Herman. With the addition of Judd Apatow as producer, Pee Wee’s Big Holiday received the green light.

Netflix wisely released the film the same weekend as the SXSW festival in Austin. According to Rolling Stone, the buzz and excitement in January over SXSW’s screening of Pee Wee’s Big Holiday overshadowed some of the festival’s other anticipated releases, and fans were thrilled at the opportunity to see Herman on the big screen again.

Though said to be full of the typical Pee Wee one liners and some speculation of gay innuendos and themes, fans will have to tune into Netflix themselves to see if Large Marge makes an appearance or if at any point Herman tells Manganiello “I know you are but what am I?”

[Image via Netflix]