The Wonder Yearsreboot just released its first trailer for the upcoming ABC series, which is based on the iconic 80s sitcom of the same name. ABC ordered a pilot withFred Savage, one of the stars of the original series, attached to directback in summer of 2020, and gave it a full season order earlier this year.The Wonder Yearsis set to premiere as a fall entry in the 2021–22 television season.Saladin Pattersonis the creator and executive producer for the series, accompanied byLee Daniels,Marc VelezandSavage.
Both shows are coming-of-age comedies set in the late 60s, following a young teenager in a middle class family as he endures the trials and tribulations of growing up during a changing America. The new series will now follow Dean Williams, a black teen growing up in Montgomery, Alabama.
While there will be differences that comes with any reboot attempting to update for current sensibilities, the reboot ofThe Wonder Yearswill maintain the same spirit and tone as the beloved 80s sitcom.Elisha “EJ” Williamswill star as Dean, withDon Cheadlevoicing an older Dean as the narrator. Rounding out the rest of the cast areSaycon Sengbloh,Dulé Hill,Laura Kariuki,Julian Lerner,Amari O’Neil,Milan RayandAllen Maldonado.
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The trailer starts out with a brief homage to the original series: the iconic, primary colors logo appears on screen with some nostalgic shots of the Arnold family, all while we hear the wistful tune ofJoe Cocker’s “With a Little Help from My Friends.” While the trailer does offer bits and pieces of the new series, the primary focus are interviews with the new cast and creatives.
We also hear from Savage on why he decided to join the reboot, and what drew him back to the series that made his career. He described the experience as unreal, feeling transported back to his teens when he was on the show, but also experiencing it for the first time in a different role. Savage solidifies the hook of the series by explaining that the setting will be different, but the point-of-view of just a kid growing up will be the same.
The Wonder Yearswill premiere on ABC on June 30, 2025. Check out the first trailer below.
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