The Alphabet has reportedly put a pilot order for the resurrection of the classic Hanna-Barbera characters.
- Aug 18, 2017
AceShowbiz - "The Jetsons" is back. The classic animated comedy is going to get a live-action treatment in a new series. The project is developed at ABC. According to Entertainment Weekly, the Alphabet has given a pilot order, which means there will be pinalties if it's not picked up to series.
The reboot comes from writer Gary Janetti ("Family Guy", "Will & Grace"). He is expected to executive produce with Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, and co-executive producer Jackie Levine. Warner Bros. Television will produce in association with Nickelby Inc. and Compari. No casting is announced.
Based on the Hanna-Barbera characters, the original cartoon aired for 24 episodes on ABC in 1962 and was revived in 1985. The sci-fi series takes place 100 years in the future and revolves around the misadventures of America's favorite future family through a modern filter.
The family consists of George, Jane, Judy, and Elroy Jetson, their robot maid Alice and their dog Astro. The characters were created as a Space Age counterpart to The Flintstones. In 1987, The Jetsons crossed path with The Flintstones in a TV movie.
No new episodes to the TV series were produced following the passing of stars George O'Hanlon and Mel Blanc who lent their voices to George Jetson and his boss Cosmo respectively. The nuclear family only got an animated movie treatment in 1990. It served as a finale to the TV series until a direct-to-video animated movie, "The Jetsons & WWE: Robo-WrestleMania!", was produced this year.
There were attempts to resurrect the cartoon in a new movie over the years. Robert Rodriguez ("Sin City", "Machete") and Adam Shankman ("Hairspray", "Rock of Ages") were once in talks to direct a live-action version of the animated series.
Now Warner Brothers, which owns the Hanna-Barbera library, is reportedly hoping to adapt the series into an animated movie. Conrad Vernon, who co-directed R-rated animated comedy "Sausage Party", is reportedly attached to serve behind the lens.
