Chris Wood has been cast as the star of ABC’s “Thirtysomething(else)” pilot, the sequel to the network’s 1987 series from Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick.
Wood will play the son of Hope and Michael in the new show, which follows a new cast of actors playing the 30-something-year-old children of the original cast. Returning original cast members include Ken Olin (Michael Steadman), Mel Harris (Hope Murdoch), Timothy Busfield (Elliot Weston) and Patty Wettig (Nancy Weston) returning.
Wood is the first new cast member to be announced.
“Apparently, raising children (even grown children) never ends, but who could have known how hard it would be for them to raise their parents?” reads the sequel’s description from ABC.
“thirtysomething” originally ran from 1987-1991 for four seasons and a total of 85 hourlong episodes, and earned 13 Emmy Awards out of 41 nominations, including Best Drama. It also won two Golden Globes.
The drama series highlighted a tight-knit group of baby boomers living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and their struggles. It revolved around husband and wife Michael Steadman (Olin) and Hope Murdoch (Harris) and their baby Jane. The series celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017.
Showrunners and “thirtysomething” creators Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick will return to helm “thirtysomething(else)” under their Bedford Falls Co. banner along with MGM Television. Zwick will direct. ABC Studios will produce. The original series was produced by Ann Lewis Hamilton, Joseph Dougherty, and Richard Kramer.