ABC’s ‘The Wonder Years’ revival will star Elisha “EJ” Williams during its upcoming pilot episode. The original show featured character Kevin Arnold – played by Fred Savage – and aired back in the late 1980s through early 1990s.
MSN reports Williams, son of basketball legend Harold “Lefty” Williams, will be playing a character named Dean, described as being “an inquisitive and hopeful 12-year-old” who is “coming of age in a turbulent time” and “trying to figure out his place within his Black family and the world at large.”
"The pilot, a term used in the entertainment industry to describe the first episode of a potential series, is set in 1968 and takes place in Montgomery, Alabama."
Throughout the original, Kevin Arnold, the show’s main character, experienced life as a pre-teen and eventually grew up to be an adult. The story was told from adult Kevin’s perspective via voiceover, according to MSN.
"Like the reboot, it was set in late ’60s. Though, at the time of its airing, that time period was a mere 20 years in the rear view mirror."
ABC distributed a promotional video where Fred Savage, who is currently working on the project as and executive producer and director, and Saladin K. Patterson, another producer, welcomed Williams onboard.
“It’s kinda like the passing of the torch, right, you know? From one generation of ‘Wonder Years’ to another one,” Patterson tells Williams in the video.
‘Doogie Howser, M.D.’ is another reboot on the table. Developed by Disney+, it will reportedly star a female version of the Howser character.