It goes without saying that we’re currently living in an era of reboots and remakes. This past decade alone has seen new variations of numerous classic shows, ranging from Full House and Roseanne to Hawaii Five-O and MacGyver. Now, another classic show is preparing to join those revamped/rebooted ranks -- The Wonder Years. The mid-’80s/early ‘90s coming-of-age show is being retooled with a predominantly Black cast and was recently ordered to series at ABC. Now, one of the show’s new leads, Psych alum Dulé Hill, is sharing some thoughts following news of the series order
Shortly after news of The Wonder Years’ big step at ABC, Dulé Hill took to Instagram to share some thoughts. The gravity of the moment was not lost on the actor and his brief, yet sweet, sentiments summed up things perfectly:
Blessed beyond measure. I am so looking forward to sharing this story, during this time, with these wonderful group of artists.
Dulé Hill seems more than excited to be moving forward with the show, and it’s not hard to see why. Not only does he get to play a part in bringing back one of television’s most beloved shows, but he also gets to do it alongside talented creatives. And the premise is one that is sure to resonate with viewers.
This iteration of The Wonder Years centers on the Williamses, a middle-class Black family living in Montgomery, Alabama during the late 1960s. The show will mostly be told from the perspective of imaginative 12-year-old Dean Williams (Elisha “EJ” Williams), as his older self (Don Cheadle) narrates, reflecting on the humorous and defining moments of his youth. Dulé Hill plays Williams family patriarch, Bill, while Saycon Sengbloh plays his wife, Lillian, and Laura Kariuki plays their daughter and Dean’s older sister, Kim. You can check out the first look at the cast down below:
Behind the scenes, Saladin Patterson (Psych, The Bernie Mac Show, and The Last OG) serves as writer and executive producer. Empire creator Lee Daniels executive produces alongside Marc Velez under the Lee Daniels Entertainment banner. Wonder Years alum Fred Savage is also an executive producer and directed the pilot.
The fact that ABC is interested in bringing back The Wonder Years isn’t surprising when you consider that the original show was highly successful during its six-season run. While we’ve yet to see any actual footage from the new show, the first images indicate that the revamp is going for the same vintage aesthetic of the original.
The Wonder Years is considered by many to be one of the greatest television shows ever made, so the cast and crew have a lot to live up to. But with capable artists both in front of and behind the camera, the show has the tools to succeed. We’ll see if Dulé Hill and his collaborators can make a splash during this upcoming TV season.
