ABC sent viewers for a ride down memory lane as the network released the first official trailer for Lee Daniels’ reboot of The Wonder Years on Tuesday.
The 54 second preview immediately hits watchers with a double dose of nostalgia by heading back to the 1960s suburbs, scored by the same theme song as the original series: Joe Cocker’s With a Little Help from My Friends.
Original series star Fred Savage, who played Kevin Arnold, directed the pilot episode for the revival which will air Wednesdays on ABC between The Goldbergs and The Conners.
Revival: ABC sent viewers for a ride down memory lane as the network released the first official trailer for Lee Daniels’ reboot of The Wonder Years on Tuesday
Opening with the familiar lyrics, ‘What would you do if I sang out of tune?’, the trailer introduces the Williams family as told through the recollections of son Dean Williams.
EJ Williams steps into the Kevin Arnold-esque starring role in the reboot and the story is narrated by his adult self, voiced by actor Don Cheadle.
‘It’s the little things that you remember all your life,’ says Cheadle in a voice over. ‘Your first hit, your first kiss, the first time your dad lets you know that he sees you.’
Adding in a much lighter tone: ‘Well, I still hadn’t had the other two but boy did that third one feel good.’
Wonderful: The 54 second preview immediately hits watchers with a double dose of nostalgia by heading back to the 1960s suburbs, scored by the same theme song as the original series: Joe Cocker’s With a Little Help from My Friends
Star: Opening with the familiar lyrics, ‘What would you do if I sang out of tune?’, the trailer introduces the Williams family as told through the recollections of son Dean Williams
Similarly to the original series, the show will follow the life and times of a suburban family in the 1960s – this time a black family – in Montgomery, Alabama.
The trailer sees Dean Williams heading to the baseball field to lock eyes with his father Bill, played by Dule Hill, who approaches the diamond from outside of a fence. Bill is a music professor and funk musician.
Actress Saycon Sengbloh serves as the family matriarch Lillian and Laura Kariuki as Dean’s older sister Kim.
The series is being revived by film and television creator Lee Daniels with former star Fred Savage stepping in as both a director and executive producer.
‘It’s the little things that you remember all your life,’ says Cheadle in a voice over. ‘Your first hit, your first kiss, the first time your dad lets you know that he sees you.’
Adding in a much lighter tone: ‘Well, I still hadn’t had the other two but boy did that third one feel good.’
Nostalgia: Similarly to the original series, the show will follow the life and times of a suburban family in the 1960s – this time a black family – in Montgomery, Alabama
The original late eighties/early nineties prime time comedy-drama also aired on ABC.
The Wonder Years was a coming-of-age television series about the dealings of young boy, Kevin Arnold, and his life in a middle-class family living in an American suburb.
Each episode was told through the recollections of Kevin as an adult through narration by actor Daniel Stern.
It aired on ABC for six seasons from 1988-1993 but the time period in the show was from 1968 to 1973 – exactly 20 years prior.
Patriarch: The trailer sees Dean Williams heading to the baseball field to lock eyes with his father Bill, played by Dule Hill, who approaches the diamond from outside of a fence
Behind the scenes: Saladin K. Patterson (Big Bang Theory), who also serves an executive producer on the reboot, will pen the new Wonder Years based on his own experiences growing up in Montgomery, Alabama
The original: The Wonder Years was a coming-of-age television series about the dealings of young boy, Kevin Arnold, and his life in a middle-class family living in an American suburb
Dan Lauria starred in The Wonder Years as Kevin’s dad Jack Arnold with Alley Mills as his mom Norma.
Kevin’s older siblings were played by Jason Hervey and Olivia d’Abo, with Josh Saviano as his best friend Paul, and Danica McKellar as Kevin’s girlfriend Winnie Cooper.
Fred Savage was lauded for his portrayal of the young protagonist and became the youngest actor nominated for a Best Actor Emmy at 13-years-old.
He also scored back-to-back Golden Globe acting nominations in 1990 and 1991.
The Williams: Dule Hill, Saycon Sengbloh, Elisha Williams and Laura Kariuki star as the Williams family in 1960s Montgomery, Alabama
Iconic: The Wonder Years aired on ABC for six seasons from 1988-1993 but the time period in the show was from 1968 to 1973 – it starred Fred Savage, Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, Jason Hervey, Olivia d’Abo, Josh Saviano and Danica McKellar
The Wonder Years won an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1988, a Golden Globe in 1989 for Best TV Comedy Series and a Peabody in 1990.
The reboot will air sometime in the 2021-22 season and was recently given a series order from ABC.
Saladin K. Patterson (Big Bang Theory), who also serves an executive producer on the reboot, will pen the new Wonder Years based on his own experiences growing up in Montgomery, Alabama.
Meanwhile, Fred Savage has created quite a reputation both in front of and behind the camera starring in the short-lived Rob Lowe comedy The Grinder and directing shows like Modern Family and The Goldbergs.
Coming soon: The reboot will air sometime in the 2021-22 season and was recently given a series order from ABC