A reboot of “7th Heaven” is currently in early development at CBS Studios, Variety has learned from sources.
Anthony Sparks will serve as executive producer and showrunner on the reboot. Jessica Biel, who starred in the original series, is executive producing under her Iron Ocean banner along with Michelle Purple. DeVon Franklin will executive produce via Franklin Entertainment and his overall deal with CBS Studios.
Sources say that the new show would focus on a diverse family, and that none of the original cast members would appear. As the project is still in the very early stages, deals are still being worked out and no network or streamer is attached.
Reps for CBS Studios did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment
Sparks was previously the showrunner on the critically-acclaimed OWN series “Queen Sugar.” He also worked as an executive producer on “Bel-Air” at Peacock and the Mike Tyson biographical series “Mike” at Hulu. His other TV writing credits include “The Blacklist” and “The District.”
He is repped by Paradigm, Literate, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
Biel recently starred in and executive produced the Hulu limited series “Candy” and will be seen in the upcoming Prime Video series “The Better Sister,” on which she is also an executive producer. She has also previously starred in and executive produced shows like “The Sinner” and “Limetown,” while she and Iron Ocean have produced shows such as Freeform’s “Cruel Summer.”
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She is repped by UTA, LBI Entertainment, and Yorn Levine Barnes.
Franklin is best known for producing faith based films like “Miracles from Heaven” and “Heaven Is for Real.” He previously held positions at Will Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment as well as MGM and Sony’s Colombia Pictures. In his time as a studio exec, he worked with Smith on films like “The Pursuit of Happyness,” “Hancock,” and “Seven Pounds.” His other credits include the animated Biblical film “The Star” as well as “Flamin’ Hot” and the BET+ original series “Kingdom Business.”
He is repped by UTA, Artist Collective Entertainment, Hansen Jacobson, and The Initiative Group.
“7th Heaven” was created by Brenda Hampton and originally debuted on The WB (later The CW) in 1996. The show proved to be a major early hit for the network, ultimately airing for 11 seasons and nearly 250 episodes. It was also one of the last shows produced by TV icon Aaron Spelling before his death in 2006.
The show followed the Camden family — parents Eric and Annie and their seven children: Matt, Mary, Lucy, Simon, Ruthie, Sam, and David. They lived in the town of Glen Oak, CA, where Eric was a Protestant minister. Along with Biel, the cast of the series included Stephen Collins, Catherine Hicks, Barry Watson, David Gallagher, Beverley Mitchell, Mackenzie Rosman, Nikolas Brino, and Lorenzo Brino.
The show has remained popular since it went off the air, with Mitchell, Gallagher, and Rosman launching the rewatch podcast “Catching Up with the Camdens” in 2024.
The memory of the show is not without controversy, however. In 2014, Collins admitted to sexual misconduct with three underage girls years prior. The admission came after audio leaked from a 2012 marriage counseling session between Collins and his now ex-wife, Faye Grant. On “Catching Up with the Camdens,” the hosts addressed Collins’ admission, saying in part, “All forms of abuse, sexual abuse of any kind, it’s inexcusable. And victims of abuse need to be shown compassion and they should be given support.”
From Variety US