Earlier this year, we reported that a re-imagining of the fan-favorite and critically acclaimed animated seriesThe Boondockswasin the works. A few short months later and we can now report thatHBO Maxis ordering two re-imagined seasons, with 24 new episodes on the way. The series from creatorAaron McGruderwill launch in Fall 2020 with a 50-minute special. All 55 episodes of the originalThe Boondocksseries will also be available on the direct-to-consumer offering at launch.
Based on the comic strip created by McGruder,The Boondocksboth depicted and presaged the nation’s most roiling cultural issues, earning McGruder a Peabody Award, and the devotion of fans who see him as both the voice, and the Nostradamus of his generation. The newBoondocksfollows the adventures of self-proclaimed “Civil Rights Legend” Robert “Granddad” Freeman, and his two rambunctious grandsons Huey and Riley. The family has recently moved to an idyllic community in suburban Maryland only to see it taken over by the tyrannical Uncle Ruckus and his bizarre neo-fascist regime. Life under Ruckus turns out to be an everyday struggle to survive.
As McGruder put it:
“There’s a unique opportunity to revisit the world ofThe Boondocksand do it over again for today. It’s crazy how different the 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.”
“The Boondockswas a revolutionary series that sparked conversations on hot button issues and brought dark subjects into the light with episodes like ‘The Trial of Robert Kelly’, ‘The Fundraiser’ and ‘The Story of Gangstalicious’,” saidKevin Reilly, Chief Content Officer, HBO Max and President, TBS, TNT and truTV. “Aaron is a gifted visionary whose unique style of storytelling is a welcome voice and we are elated The Freemans are making theirthugnificentcomeback on HBO Max.”
McGruder returns as showrunner and will serve as executive producer along withNorm Aladjemfor Mainstay Entertainment as well asSeung KimandMeghann Collins Robertson.Sony PicturesAnimationwill produce the series in partnership with Sony Pictures Television.
