Back in August 2017, ABC ordered a live-action adaptation of the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon The Jetsons from executive producer Robert Zemeckis. And now over a year later, we have word that not only will the Back to the Future and Cast Away director be executive producing this new series, he will also be taking the helm of the pilot episode. This updated multi-camera sitcom is set 100 years in the future and looks at America's favorite future family through a modern filter. Hanna-Barbera produced the original animated-sitcom, which aired from September 1962 to March 1963 and then later in syndication.
This live-action reboot of The Jetsons is coming our way via writer Gary Janetti, who is best known for writing multiple episodes of Seth MacFarlane's Family Guy on top of creating the series Vicious. Janetti will executive produce this reboot of The Jetsons along with the above-mentioned Robert Zemeckis, and Jack Rapke (Welcome to Marwen, What Lies Beneath). Jackie Levine (NOPD: After Katrina, Medal of Honor) will be the show's co-executive producer and Nickleby, Inc. and Compari Entertainment (Project Blue Book) are attached in association with Warner Bros. Television.
On top of helming the pilot episode of this potential new series, Zemeckis is also known for directing some of the great classics of modern filmmaking. His hits include the likes of Who Framed Roger Rabbit starring Bob Hoskins and Christopher Lloyd, Death Becomes Her with Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis, and Goldie Hawn, and Forrest Gump with Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, and Gary Sinise. Not to mention movies such as What Lies Beneath starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford, Flight with Denzel Washington, Kelly Reilly, and John Goodman, and The Walk with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ben Kingsley. And let's not forget his work behind the camera for all those creepy motion-capture animated movies such as The Polar Express, Beowulf, and his 2009 take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey.
Most recently Zemeckis took the helm of the utterly underwhelming drama Welcome to Marwen starring Steve Carell and Leslie Mann. Again, that movie was super underwhelming but here's hoping that the once excellent filmmaker cane regain his movie-magic with his next project. That project is, of course, his remake / re-adaptation of Roald Dahl's 1973 classic book The Witches which is set to star Octavia Spencer, Codie-Lei Eastick, Jahzir Bruno, and Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch.
Moving back to The Jetsons, no one is sure just when ABC plans to put this pilot into production but sources say that it could be next March once the new pilot season starts, or it could be coming our way later this year. No telling at this point in time, but hopefully if this pilot (and eventual) series is a hit, maybe we will get a live-action The Flintstones reboot as well. And then they could crossover! Sounds like fun to me. Whatever ends up happening with this new take on The Jetsons, we will make sure to keep you guys up to date as we hear more. This news comes to us via Discussing Film Discussing Film.