The classic 1989 comedy Uncle Buck, written and directed by John Hughes, is getting a modern day reboot on ABC. Comedian Mike Epps will step into the role made famous by John Candy. He will star opposite Nia Long in this single-camera half hour comedy pilot from Universal TV and Will Packer Productions.

Uncle Buck will stay true to the original storyline, centering on a loutish bachelor who is forced to care for his brother's kids. Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley wrote the pilot script. While brother Will has yet to be cast, Nia Long is starring as Will's strong-willed wife, and mother to three children.

This is the second time Uncle Buck has been turned into a television series. Kevin Meaney starred as the title character in the first sitcom attempt, which only lasted a season back in 1990, a year after the original movie came out. This time, the character of Buck is African-American, giving the show, what the producers call, a 'twist'. Producer Will Packer is known for his hit comedies which always feature an African-American actor in the lead, including Ride Along and Think Like a Man. This new Uncle Buck is being conceived as a companion show for ABC's Black-Ish.