The Boondocks (2020 TV series)
The Boondocks is an upcoming American adult animated sitcom created by Aaron McGruder and loosely based upon the comic strip of the same name. It will be the second television series based on the comic, following the 2005 TV series that aired on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block for four seasons between 2005 and 2014. The series will premiere in Fall 2020 on HBO Max.
The Boondocks | |
---|---|
Genre | Animated sitcom Black sitcom |
Created by | Aaron McGruder |
Based on | The Boondocks by Aaron McGruder |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) |
|
Running time | 22 minutes, 55 minute special |
Production company(s) | Sony Pictures Animation Sony Pictures Television Rebel Base Productions |
Distributor | Sony Pictures Television WarnerMedia Entertainment |
Release | |
Original network | HBO Max |
Premise
The show begins with a black family, the Freemans, settling into the fictional, friendly and overall white suburb of Woodcrest and follows them as they fight the regime of Uncle Ruckus, who rules over the community government.[1] The perspective offered by this mixture of cultures, lifestyles, social classes, stereotypes, viewpoints, and racialized identities provides for much of the series' satire, comedy, and conflict.
Development
The original Boondocks television series premiered on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim on November 6, 2005 and ran for four seasons and 55 episodes until its conclusion on June 23, 2014.[2][3] During its first season, McGruder put the strip on a 6-month hiatus beginning in March 2006. He did not return to the strip the following November, and the strip's syndicate, Universal Press Syndicate, announced that it had been canceled.[4] McGruder was not involved in the show's fourth season. Adult Swim stated, "a mutually agreeable production schedule could not be determined."[5]
On February 6, 2019, McGruder revived the comic strip on Instagram, with the help of former supervising director Seung Eun Kim. A series of one-shots were posted to Charlamagne tha God's Instagram page.[6] On May 29, 2019, Grandad voice actor John Witherspoon announced on Joe Rogan's 1305th episode of The Joe Rogan Experience that the series would return.[7][8] Witherspoon passed away on October 29, 2019, with producers questioning how the show will continue. At Annecy 2019, on June 12, 2019, Sony Pictures Animation announced it would be producing a "reimagining" of The Boondocks to be co-produced with Sony Pictures Television.[9][10]
On September 18, 2019, it was announced that the reboot had been picked up with a two-season order for WarnerMedia's upcoming streaming service HBO Max. It was also announced that McGruder would be returning as showrunner and will serve as executive producer along with Norm Aladjem for Mainstay Entertainment as well as Seung Kim and Meghann Collins Robertson. The series will premiere in fall 2020, with a 50-minute special. Each season is set to consist of twelve episodes.[11][12]
References
- "The Boondocks reboot in the works with original series creator". Entertainment Weekly.
- "Aaron McGruder interview: Complete transcript". The News Tribune. Interviewed by Interview with Bill Hutchens. Tacoma News, Inc. November 6, 2005. Archived from the original on May 27, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- McGruder, Aaron (2005-11-03). "Aaron McGruder". The A.V. Club. Interviewed by Interview by Nathan Rabin. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- "Return of 'Boondocks' comic strip delayed". CNN. September 25, 2006. Archived from the original on September 29, 2006.
- Moore, Frazier (18 April 2014). "'The Boondocks' Back For Final 'Offensive' Season". AP.org. Associated Press. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- Rao, Sameer. "ICYMI: Aaron McGruder Resurrects 'The Boondocks' Just in Time". ColorLines. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- "The Boondocks Confirmed to Return for Season 5". TV Shows. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
- PowerfulJRE (2019-05-29), Joe Rogan Experience #1305 - JD & John Witherspoon, retrieved 2019-05-31
- "Sony Pictures Animation Reveals Bold, Expanded Production Slate at Annecy 2019". Animation World News. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- "Sony Announces Reboot of 'The Boondocks' With Creator Aaron McGruder". Complex. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- @WarnerMedia (May 27, 2020). "#HBOMax is here! 🥳 Our groundbreaking streaming platform features iconic and beloved programming from across the WarnerMedia portfolio, a roster of new Max Originals, & fan-favorite acquired franchises & films" (Tweet). Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via Twitter.
- Andreeva, Nellie (September 18, 2019). "'The Boondocks' Reboot Gets 2-Season Order By HBO Max". Deadline. Retrieved August 8, 2020.