A&E Developing "Highway to Heaven" Reboot w/ Mark Wahlberg Producing - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 01-16-2014, 11:48 PM

A&E Developing "Highway to Heaven" Reboot from Mark Wahlberg (Exclusive)
1/16/14
by Lacey Rose

"Highway to Heaven" is making an edgy comeback.

A&E is developing a contemporary remake of the acclaimed late-1980s Michael Landon drama, with Mark Wahlberg on board as an executive producer. The project, which centers on an angel sent down to earth to help troubled souls, is being penned by former "Hell on Wheels" showrunner John Wirth.

The project is being co-produced by Bob DeBitetto's newly launched A&E Studios and Noreen Halpern's Halfire-Core Entertainment, in association with Wahlberg's Closest to the Hole Productions and his manager and producing partner Stephen Levinson's Leverage Entertainment.

Wahlberg and Levinson (Boardwalk Empire), along with Halpern, Wirth and Wayne Lepoff of the Landon estate are all attached as executive producers.

The original, which ran for five seasons on NBC, starred Landon as Jonathan Smith, an angel sent down on probation, and his "Little House on the Prairie" co-star Victor French as human companion Mark Gordon. Together, the pair is given assignments by God as Landon's character looks to earn his wings.

If the remake is ultimately ordered to series, "Highway" would join other A&E scripted efforts "Longmire", "Bates Motel" and the upcoming "Those Who Kill".

In its bid for greater ownership, A&E launched its own in-house studio this past spring, moving DeBitetto from head of the network to head of the studio, among other things, at that time.

Halfire-Core, a scripted venture between Marc Graboff's Core Media Group and Halpern's Halfire Entertainment, was launched only a few months before that. The latter, which focuses on innovative financing models that result in straight-to-series orders, has a robust development slate that includes Fox event series "Billy the Kid" and NBC comedy "Working the Engels".

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...-heaven-671674

jehobden · 01-20-2014, 01:16 PM

Good grief! Another "edgy" reboot, that's all tv needs! I suppose it'll be more "hip" than the original too. How can anything be "edgy" anymore when all the edges are gone? I imagine this'll go down the dumpster faster than the Fantasy Island remake, with a borderline-demonic Mr. Roarke.

Marvo301 · 01-20-2014, 02:37 PM

No more reboots, remakes, re-imaginings or re anything else...PLEASE!!!!!

01-16-2014, 11:48 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,966	A&E Developing "Highway to Heaven" Reboot w/ Mark Wahlberg Producing *A&E Developing "Highway to Heaven" Reboot from Mark Wahlberg (Exclusive)* 1/16/14 by Lacey Rose "Highway to Heaven" is making an edgy comeback. A&E is developing a contemporary remake of the acclaimed late-1980s Michael Landon drama, with Mark Wahlberg on board as an executive producer. The project, which centers on an angel sent down to earth to help troubled souls, is being penned by former "Hell on Wheels" showrunner John Wirth. The project is being co-produced by Bob DeBitetto's newly launched A&E Studios and Noreen Halpern's Halfire-Core Entertainment, in association with Wahlberg's Closest to the Hole Productions and his manager and producing partner Stephen Levinson's Leverage Entertainment. Wahlberg and Levinson (Boardwalk Empire), along with Halpern, Wirth and Wayne Lepoff of the Landon estate are all attached as executive producers. The original, which ran for five seasons on NBC, starred Landon as Jonathan Smith, an angel sent down on probation, and his "Little House on the Prairie" co-star Victor French as human companion Mark Gordon. Together, the pair is given assignments by God as Landon's character looks to earn his wings. If the remake is ultimately ordered to series, "Highway" would join other A&E scripted efforts "Longmire", "Bates Motel" and the upcoming "Those Who Kill". In its bid for greater ownership, A&E launched its own in-house studio this past spring, moving DeBitetto from head of the network to head of the studio, among other things, at that time. Halfire-Core, a scripted venture between Marc Graboff's Core Media Group and Halpern's Halfire Entertainment, was launched only a few months before that. The latter, which focuses on innovative financing models that result in straight-to-series orders, has a robust development slate that includes Fox event series "Billy the Kid" and NBC comedy "Working the Engels". http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...-heaven-671674

01-20-2014, 02:37 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	No more reboots, remakes, re-imaginings or re anything else...PLEASE!!!!!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

01-20-2014, 01:16 PM	#2
jehobden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: DFW Area, TX Posts: 2,004	Good grief! Another "edgy" reboot, that's all tv needs! I suppose it'll be more "hip" than the original too. How can anything be "edgy" anymore when all the edges are gone? I imagine this'll go down the dumpster faster than the Fantasy Island remake, with a borderline-demonic Mr. Roarke.