The 2008 film serves as a "backdoor pilot," effectively rebooting the franchise as a direct sequel to the original 1982–1986 series while ignoring other spin-offs like Knight Rider 2000 . Review of knight rider 2008 film - Facebook

The 2008 revival of was a high-octane attempt to bring the classic 1980s franchise into the modern era with cutting-edge tech and a new hero. The project began with a successful made-for-television pilot movie that aired on NBC on February 17, 2008, before transitioning into a full television series later that year. The Knight Rider 2008 Pilot Movie