About the Show

Dean Williams' coming-of-age story

The New «The Wonder Years» Series aired on the US network ABC. It is also available on Hulu and as a «Star Original» on Disney+. But what is the new series all about?

Plot Summary | The Producers | What the Stars of the Original Series are saying

Plot Summary

According to ABC, the new «The Wonder Years» series, like the original series, is a coming-of-age story set in the late 1960s. It takes a nostalgic look at the Williamses, a black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama, through the point of view of imaginative 12-year-old Dean. With the wisdom of his adult years, Dean's hopeful and humorous recollections show how his family found their «wonder years» in a turbulent time.

As showrunner Saladin Patterson told People magazine, the second season opens up the world for the Williams family a little bit outside of Montgomery, Alabama: «we get to see them experience the country and the world in a little broader sense and then bringing those experiences back and I'm looking forward to how that mixes things up a little bit.»

The New The Wonder Years Series Cast
Season 1 photo by Erika Doss/ABC
The New The Wonder Years Series Cast
Season 1 photo shared by Lee Daniels on Twitter
The New The Wonder Years Series Cast
Season 1 photo by Matt Sayles/ABC
The New The Wonder Years Series Cast
Season 1 photo by Matt Sayles/ABC
The New The Wonder Years Series Cast
Season 2 photo by Matt Sayles/ABC

ABC released a teaser trailer and a full trailer for the first season of the new series:

ABC released a teaser trailer and a full trailer for the second season of the new series:

The New «The Wonder Years» Series stars Don Cheadle, narrating the series as Adult Dean Williams, Elisha «EJ» Williams as Dean Williams, Dulé Hill as Bill Williams, Saycon Sengbloh as Lillian Williams, Laura Kariuki as Kim Williams, Julian Lerner as Brad Hitman, Amari O'Neil as Cory Long and Milan Ray as Keisa Clemmons. Read more about the cast.

And here are some short videos courtesey of ABC with behind-the-scenes interviews:

More interviews and behind-the-scenes videos are available on the official ABC press website.

Dean and friends
photo by Erika Doss/ABC
Dean in school
photo by Erika Doss/ABC
Dean and Keisa
photo by Erika Doss/ABC
Williams family
photo by Erika Doss/ABC
Parents
photo by Erika Doss/ABC
Family
photo by Erika Doss/ABC
Playing Baseball
photo by Erika Doss/ABC

Although set in Montgomery, Alabama, the show is mainly filmed DeKalb county in and around Atlanta, Georgia (e.g. in Atlanta's Little Five Points neighborhood as well as in Decatur, Lithonia, Stone Mountain and Tucker). Additionally, filming takes place in Montgomery, Alabama, so that the show can also features the town's iconic sights.

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New TWY Logo

The Producers

Saladin K. Patterson serves as writer and executive producer. Lee Daniels and Marc Velez of Lee Daniels Entertainment also executive produce along with original series star, Fred Savage. The original series co-creator Neal Marlens is attached to the project as a consultant. The pilot episode was written by Saladin Patterson and directed by Fred Savage. The new series is produced by Disney-owned 20th Television.

After Fred Savage was fired by Disney, Saladin K. Patterson is showrunner and executive producer alongside Lee Daniels, Bob Daily and Jacque Edmonds Cofer.

Dean's best friends
Lee Daniels, Fred Savage, Saladin K. Patterson

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What the Stars of the Original Series are saying

TWY stars Danica McKellar (Winnie Cooper), Dan Lauria (Jack Arnold) and Alley Mills (Norma Arnold) welcomed the news of a reboot on Twitter.

McKellar wrote: «Fred emailed me last night to share the news! ❤ I can't wait to see what he & @leedanielsent create. I have no doubt it will both honor the original show & do justice to the realities of growing up black in 1960's».

Lauria commented: «It’s about time they try to tell a realistic story of a black child growing up during the 60’s & 70’s. I hope it sheds light on our current society - from civil rights through the Vietnam war- and now Black Lives Matter - hope this show makes a difference.»

Mills wrote: «I can’t wait to see the reboot of “The Wonder Years”! 😍»

Danica McKellar also congratulated Milan Ray for being cast on the new show: «#TBT to my days as Winnie Cooper, the mostly unrequited love interest for young Kevin on The Wonder Years 😉... and a HUGE congrats to Milan Ray who plays the young love interest in the *new* Wonder Years reboot that started shooting this week! Go get 'em, girl! ❤»

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