The classic coming-of-age series The Wonder Years is returning to ABC for an all new series. The Wonder Years will be rebooted by Empire co-creator Lee Daniels (The Butler), featuring a black family as the stars, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
The original The Wonder Years is one of ABC’s biggest hits, credited with launching the career of Fred Savage (Oswald) and running for 115 episodes over six seasons. Savage starred as Kevin, the youngest son of the suburban-middle class Arnold family. Taking place from 1968-1973, Kevin learned hard lessons about life in America, such as a family friend becoming a causality in the Vietnam War, or the complicated politics of his older, hippie sister Karen (Olivia d’Abo, Law and Order: Criminal Intent). Savage is joined by Dan Lauria (Wide Awake) who plays his father John Arnold, Alley Mills (The Bold and the Beautiful) as his mother Norma, and Jason Hervey (Back to the Future) as his older brother Wayne.
The upcoming reboot (under the same name as the original) will take place in the same time period, but will feature a significant change in the main cast and location. The new Wonder Years will focus on a middle class black family in Montgomery, Alabama (the original had no specific location aside from suburban America). Savage will return as a director for the new series, working with Saladin K. Peterson (The Big Bang Theory) who will be the head writer. In addition, Peterson and Savage will serve as executive producers alongside Daniels and Marc Velez (Cupcake Men). While the reboot will air on ABC, this reboot will be one of the first major Disney-owned productions by 20th Century Fox Television.
The Wonder Years is available for streaming on Hulu. There has been no word as to when the reboot will enter production.