Are More Wonder Years on the Horizon?
Okay, here’s a confession. Back when I was in high school, People used to say I looked like Fred Savage. And, I think it was because I was (am) short and had (have) brown hair.
Me:
Fred:
Us. Approximately the same age (I’m a year older). See the resemblance? Nope.
But, internally, I was Kevin Arnold, like, all over. Some of The Wonder Years episodes, I lived – over and over.
I even had a crush on Winnie Cooper (Danika McKellar, who, like me, was born in 1975).
So these days I watch a lot of Hallmark Channel. But I digress.
SO, The Wonder Years hit home, hard. I literally grew up with these guys.
And, on July 8, our friend Skyler Shuler, over at The DisInsider dropped some happy on us.
‘The Wonder Years’ Reboot in The Works at ABC From ‘Empire’ Co-Creator Lee Daniels https://t.co/AU5cAt3mDa
— The DisInsider (@TheDisInsider) July 8, 2020
The reboot comes from Empire co-creator Lee Daniels, executive producer Saladin K. Patterson (Two and a Half Men), the original series’ breakout star Fred Savage and 20th Century Fox TV. The new take focuses on how a Black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama, in the turbulent late ’60s made sure it was “the wonder years” for them, too.
Savage will direct the potential pilot. He and Patterson executive produce the half-hour project with Lee Daniels Entertainment’ Daniels and Marc Velez.
Neal Marlens, who co-created the original series with Carol Black, will be a consultant. 20th TV, which owns the rights to the 1988 series, is the studio. Part of Disney TV Studios, 20th TV has overall deals with Daniels, Patterson, and Savage.
Image: ABC
Sources say Daniels, Velez, Patterson and Savage brought the idea directly to ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke, who previously singled out The Wonder Years as one of the programs that made her want to work in television. Savage and Patterson are close friends, with the former having directed the latter’s untitled Leslie Odom Jr. multicamera pilot last year.
I, for one, am glad it’s not a retread. I am also happy that Savage (my doppelganger) is involved. Here’s hoping the pilot is awesome!
