The recent wave of reboot news is still coming but this time it’s actually a good thing. The long-awaited return of The Boondocks is pressing forward with a few big announcements from WarnerMedia. Per a WarnerMedia Group release, the show has found a new home on the upcoming streaming service HBO Max (yes, there’s another one) in Fall 2020. There will be a 50-minute special, two 12-episode seasons, and the entire back catalog of the show’s original run. It’s enough to make any real Boondocks fan want to shed a tear of joy.
This revival is being described as a “re-imagining” of the popular satirical series, which ended a little over five years ago. It will still follow Grandad, Huey, and Riley as they move into a Maryland suburb that becomes taken over by Uncle Ruckus, who is still a Black man that promotes White supremacy. So there is a location change and a lot more Uncle Ruckus this time around. Interesting. Thankfully, creator Aaron McGruder is coming back as showrunner and has a vision for what The Boondocks looks like for today’s world. Here’s what he had to say about this new series.
“There’s a unique opportunity to revisit the world of The Boondocks and do it over again for today. It’s crazy how different times we live in are now—both politically and culturally—more than a decade past the original series and two decades past the original newspaper comic. There’s a lot to say and it should be fun.”
A part of this re-imagining includes an interesting update to the show’s manga inspired aesthetics, which it revealed via Instagram. It will take time to get used to, but it’s certainly not a bad look for the Freeman family.
Right now, it’s not clear if the original voice actors are reprising their roles. Regina King was famous for portraying brothers Huey and Riley, but now she has gone on to become an even bigger (and award-winning) actress. It won’t feel quite like The Boondocks without the energy she brought to each character, but no one knows if she will be able to return to the series.
It would also be nice to get John Witherspoon back as Grandad because, honestly, no one can really replace his voice and style of humor. This goes doubly for Uncle Ruckus voice actor Gary Anthony Williams. New voice talent isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, but the show just won’t hit the same without these actors. And, the theme song has to stay for the culture.
Fingers crossed that this new version of The Boondocks will be just as epic as the first run.
Image Credit: HBO Max