History Channel to Remake Roots

The cable network recently acquired the rights from Mark Wolper, whose father David L. Wolper was the executive producer of the original. The idea for a remake came from Michael Stiller, the VP of Program Development and meetings were set up with Wolper and the estate of the late Alex Haley, author of “Roots: The Saga of an American Family” on which the miniseries was based.

History will produce a new eight-hour miniseries. Deadline reports it will use both Haley’s book, Roots: The Saga of an American Family, and the miniseries to create a drama “from a contemporary perspective.”

“We would like to revive that cultural icon for a new audience,” History executive vice-president and general manager Dirk Hoogstra told Deadline.

When “Roots” aired on ABC 36 years ago, 100 million viewers tuned in for the eight part drama. It earned over 36 Emmy nominations and won nine, including Best Limited Series, Best Supporting Actor (Ed Asner), and music for Quincy Jones. Oprah Winfrey celebrated “Roots” 35th anniversary last year on her OWN network, reuniting cast members LeVar Burton, Sandy Duncan, Leslie Uggams, and Lou Gossett Jr.

What say you readers? Will you tune in for a “Roots” remake

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