When you think of American Gladiators, the television game show of sorts from the late-80s and early-90s, I’m not sure that you think about superheroes. Sure, these Herculean characters are big, strong and mustachioed, but none of them have ever possessed any powers that steroids and hours in a gym could not provide.

Not so with the upcoming movie adaptation produced by Scott Mednick (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). In his vision for an adaptation of the show, which saw a revival in 2008 on NBC, the Gladiators will be portrayed as superheroes. Who we can only assume will save America from something really scary, like terrorism or aliens. Actually, those are the only two things I can think of — terrorism and aliens, or both. Mark my words.

The news here is that writer Peter Iliff has been hired to write the script. To his credit, Iliff has worked on scripts for films such as Varsity Blues, Point Break and Patriot Games. So he’s no hack. I’m not sure if he’ll be enough to save this laughable concept, but I’m willing to give him a chance.

Mednick is planning on having Gladiators ready for a 2011 release.