Don Cheadle signs on to play Dean Williams in 'The Wonder Years'

2020 was the year of reboots and reunions, and it seems that trend remains alive and well in 2021. The Wonder Years, a 1980s TV classic that is sure to inspire nostalgia in many, is returning to our screens. And now? The show has found its voice. Earlier today, Deadline revealed that Don Cheadle has officially signed on to play the adult Dean Williams. 

The pilot will be written by Saladin Patterson and directed by OG main character Fred Savage (a.k.a. Kevin Arnold), with Lee Daniels as executive producer.

Back in the '80s, The Wonder Years centered around Kevin, a young teen living in a quiet, middle-class suburb with his family and friends. The reboot will take a similar approach, this time centering around the Williamses, “a Black middle-class family in Montgomery, AL, in the turbulent late 1960s.”

Much like the original, which was shown from Kevin’s point-of-view, the reboot will be told from the perspective of Dean Williams, the family’s teenage son. Daniel Stern narrated the original series as “adult Kevin” and now, Cheadle will carry the tradition forward by narrating the reboot as “adult Dean.”

As for the rest of the cast, Dulé Hill and Saycon Sengbloh will reportedly star as Dean’s parents. The role of Dean’s sister, Kim, has gone to Laura Kariuki. Rounding out the executive producing team is Marc Velez, and the original series’ co-creator Neal Marlens will serve as a consultant, according to Deadline.

Cheadle, of course, is no stranger to the big and small screen. The tenured actor has made a name for himself across a number of fan-favourite series and films, including The Avengers franchise and House of Lies. More recently, Cheadle received two Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe for his work on the critically acclaimed series, Black Monday. Speaking of revivals, Cheadle will also star in Space Jam: A New Legacy alongside Lebron James himself later this summer.

Clearly, The Wonder Years' next narrator is booked and busy!

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