ABC is rebooting the classic comedy series The Wonder Years, but with a significant twist. This new version of the nostalgia-heavy series is focused on a black, middle-class family living in '60s-era Montgomery, Alabama. As revealed by The Hollywood Reporter, the reboot "has received a sizable pilot-production commitment" from ABC and is expected to debut as part of ABC's 2021-22 TV season. The Wonder Years is executive produced by Empire co-creator Lee Daniels, with Saladin K. Patterson (The Big Bang Theory) also executive producing and writing the pilot. A full writer's room will be formed once ABC approves the pilot script. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=fall-tv-schedule-2020&captions=true"] At least two familiar faces from the original Wonder Years will be involved in the reboot. Co-creator Neal Marlens is attached as consultant, while original series star Fred Savage will executive produce and direct the pilot. THR notes, "Sources say Daniels, Velez, Patterson, and Savage brought the idea directly to ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke, who previously singled out The Wonder Years as one of the programs that made her want to work in television. Savage and Patterson are close friends, with the former having directed the latter's untitled Leslie Odom Jr. multicamera pilot last year." The original version of The Wonder Years ran on ABC from 1988 to 1993. Set during the late '60s and early '70s, the series centers around Savage's Kevin Arnold and his family as they deal with the trials and tribulations of middle-class life in the era of the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. The series also features narration from an older version of Kevin (voiced by Daniel Stern). The Wonder Years quickly proved to be a critical and ratings hit for ABC, with the series earning the first of several Primetime Emmy Awards after only six episodes had aired. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/19/revealed-your-top-5-sitcoms-to-binge-watch-power-ranking"] The Wonder Years looks to be the first major TV project for Daniels following the recent conclusion of Empire, which was forced to end its final season early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Empire is one of many movies and TV shows impacted by the pandemic. Find out where The Wonder Years falls in IGN's countdown of the top 100 TV shows of all time. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

After successfully reimagining The Invisible Man, director Leigh Whannell has been tasked with helming another big screen reboot of a classic Universal Monster: The Wolfman. Deadline reports that Leigh Whannell will direct Ryan Gosling in The Wolfman for Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions. Whannell is also writing the treatment for the movie based on his own original idea, although the project is "inspired by" the 1941 Universal Monsters classic The Wolf Man starring Lon Chaney Jr. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-horror-movies&captions=true"] According to Deadline, "Whannell and Gosling have wanted to work together for some time, but the director originally demurred when first offered Wolfman." Producer Jason Blum's wife Lauren Schuker Blum -- who will script The Wolfman with Rebecca Angelo -- eventually convinced Whannell to commit to making the picture. Universal's hopes for a shared Dark Universe of its classic monsters fizzled following the failure of 2017's The Mummy. The studio then tried their hand at a low-budget approach with 2020's The Invisible Man, which proved a critical and commercial winner. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/10-reveals-from-the-invisible-man-director-commentary-wfhtheater"] The studio previously remade The Wolfman as a period piece in 2010 starring Benicio del Toro, Emily Blunt, Anthony Hopkins and Hugo Weaving.

After successfully reimagining The Invisible Man, director Leigh Whannell has been tasked with helming another big screen reboot of a classic Universal Monster: The Wolfman. Deadline reports that Leigh Whannell will direct Ryan Gosling in The Wolfman for Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions. Whannell is also writing the treatment for the movie based on his own original idea, although the project is "inspired by" the 1941 Universal Monsters classic The Wolf Man starring Lon Chaney Jr. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-horror-movies&captions=true"] According to Deadline, "Whannell and Gosling have wanted to work together for some time, but the director originally demurred when first offered Wolfman." Producer Jason Blum's wife Lauren Schuker Blum -- who will script The Wolfman with Rebecca Angelo -- eventually convinced Whannell to commit to making the picture. Universal's hopes for a shared Dark Universe of its classic monsters fizzled following the failure of 2017's The Mummy. The studio then tried their hand at a low-budget approach with 2020's The Invisible Man, which proved a critical and commercial winner. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/10-reveals-from-the-invisible-man-director-commentary-wfhtheater"] The studio previously remade The Wolfman as a period piece in 2010 starring Benicio del Toro, Emily Blunt, Anthony Hopkins and Hugo Weaving.

Electronic Arts has announced The Sims Spark'd, a new reality competition show that will have players participating in both skills and elimination challenges in The Sims 4 to build the "most unique characters, worlds and stories." The Sims Spark'd will be a four-part series that airs weekly and will begin on Friday, July 17 at 8pm PT/11pm ET. It is produced in partnership with Turner Sports' esports and gaming entertainment brand ELEAGUE and Buzzfeed Multiplayer. This new competition will have 12 contestants competing for $100,000 and each player will have to impress a panel of celebrity judges that includes BuzzFeed Multiplayer YouTube personality Kelsey Impicciche, singer-songwriter Tayla Parx, and Maxis game developer Dave Miotke. Former American Idol finalist Rayvon Owen will be the host of the show. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/08/the-sims-sparkd-reality-show-official-trailer"] The contestants will remain a mystery until the permiere, but they include "familiar online personalities who each specialize in their own element of The Sims gameplay." Those at home will be able to do more than simply watch, as Maxis will be putting out a series of in-game challenges in The Sims 4 called the Spark'd Challenge Program that will also begin Friday, July 17. Furthermore, those who stand out and become a top creator can win a chance to be considered for a future season of The Sims Spark'd. If players are interested in catching up on The Sims 4 before this new show, EA announced at EA Play Live 2020 that The Sims 4 base game and all packs are now available on Steam. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/18/the-sims-4-steam-announcement-trailer-ea-play-2020"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Electronic Arts has announced The Sims Spark'd, a new reality competition show that will have players participating in both skills and elimination challenges in The Sims 4 to build the "most unique characters, worlds and stories." The Sims Spark'd will be a four-part series that airs weekly and will begin on Friday, July 17 at 8pm PT/11pm ET. It is produced in partnership with Turner Sports' esports and gaming entertainment brand ELEAGUE and Buzzfeed Multiplayer. This new competition will have 12 contestants competing for $100,000 and each player will have to impress a panel of celebrity judges that includes BuzzFeed Multiplayer YouTube personality Kelsey Impicciche, singer-songwriter Tayla Parx, and Maxis game developer Dave Miotke. Former American Idol finalist Rayvon Owen will be the host of the show. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/08/the-sims-sparkd-reality-show-official-trailer"] The contestants will remain a mystery until the permiere, but they include "familiar online personalities who each specialize in their own element of The Sims gameplay." Those at home will be able to do more than simply watch, as Maxis will be putting out a series of in-game challenges in The Sims 4 called the Spark'd Challenge Program that will also begin Friday, July 17. Furthermore, those who stand out and become a top creator can win a chance to be considered for a future season of The Sims Spark'd. If players are interested in catching up on The Sims 4 before this new show, EA announced at EA Play Live 2020 that The Sims 4 base game and all packs are now available on Steam. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/18/the-sims-4-steam-announcement-trailer-ea-play-2020"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

It's been a follow-up nearly a decade in the making but the sequel novel to Ready Player One is (almost) finally here. Ready Player Two will be published November 24, 2020, Random House announced Wednesday. You can now pre-order Ready Player Two.

We are excited to reveal Ernest Cline's followup to READY PLAYER ONE! Introducing, READY PLAYER TWO, coming 11/24. pic.twitter.com/yWaCIJNIvX

— Random House (@randomhouse) July 8, 2020

Ernest Cline's original book came out in 2011 and proved a blockbuster sensation, taking readers into a dystopian future where citizens escape into a 1980s pop culture-drenched virtual reality called the OASIS. Director Steven Spielberg adapted Ready Player One as a movie in 2018 that starred Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg, and Mark Rylance. In our positive Ready Player One review, we called the film "far more than just a reference-fest. It’s an action film first, both in the relatively bland real world and in the colorful, over-the-top virtual one, and carries Steven Spielberg’s affinity for thoughtful timing and some genuinely thrilling sequences." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-virtual-reality-adventure-movies&captions=true"] No word yet on whether there are any plans to adapt Ready Player Two for the big screen.

It's been a follow-up nearly a decade in the making but the sequel novel to Ready Player One is (almost) finally here. Ready Player Two will be published November 24, 2020, Random House announced Wednesday. You can now pre-order Ready Player Two.

We are excited to reveal Ernest Cline's followup to READY PLAYER ONE! Introducing, READY PLAYER TWO, coming 11/24. pic.twitter.com/yWaCIJNIvX

— Random House (@randomhouse) July 8, 2020

Ernest Cline's original book came out in 2011 and proved a blockbuster sensation, taking readers into a dystopian future where citizens escape into a 1980s pop culture-drenched virtual reality called the OASIS. Director Steven Spielberg adapted Ready Player One as a movie in 2018 that starred Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg, and Mark Rylance. In our positive Ready Player One review, we called the film "far more than just a reference-fest. It’s an action film first, both in the relatively bland real world and in the colorful, over-the-top virtual one, and carries Steven Spielberg’s affinity for thoughtful timing and some genuinely thrilling sequences." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-virtual-reality-adventure-movies&captions=true"] No word yet on whether there are any plans to adapt Ready Player Two for the big screen.

Universal Pictures announced Wednesday that it has postponed four of their major horror releases due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Halloween Kills, which was to have opened October 16, 2020, has been postponed an entire year to a Friday, October 15, 2021 wide release. Likewise, its sequel Halloween Ends has been pushed from October 15, 2021, to Friday, October 14, 2022. (C'mon, you can't open a Halloween movie at any other time than Halloween!) [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/08/halloween-kills-official-trailer-1"] Both films are a follow-up to the 2018 hit -- which itself was a direct sequel to the 1978 John Carpenter classic -- and sees the return of star Jamie Lee Curtis as well as the creative team of director David Gordon Green and co-writer/executive producer Danny McBride.

I know you all have been looking forward to an update on the status of "Halloween Kills". Here it is: pic.twitter.com/EWivyipYgR

— John Carpenter (@TheHorrorMaster) July 8, 2020

The Jordan Peele-produced, Nia DaCosta-directed Candyman will now take the place of Halloween Kills' original release date, shifting from a September 25, 2020, to October 16, 2020 wide release. Finally, The Forever Purge has a new wide release date of Friday, July 9, 2021. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/27/candyman-official-trailer]

Universal Pictures announced Wednesday that it has postponed four of their major horror releases due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Halloween Kills, which was to have opened October 16, 2020, has been postponed an entire year to a Friday, October 15, 2021 wide release. Likewise, its sequel Halloween Ends has been pushed from October 15, 2021, to Friday, October 14, 2022. (C'mon, you can't open a Halloween movie at any other time than Halloween!) [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/08/halloween-kills-official-trailer-1"] Both films are a follow-up to the 2018 hit -- which itself was a direct sequel to the 1978 John Carpenter classic -- and sees the return of star Jamie Lee Curtis as well as the creative team of director David Gordon Green and co-writer/executive producer Danny McBride.

I know you all have been looking forward to an update on the status of "Halloween Kills". Here it is: pic.twitter.com/EWivyipYgR

— John Carpenter (@TheHorrorMaster) July 8, 2020

The Jordan Peele-produced, Nia DaCosta-directed Candyman will now take the place of Halloween Kills' original release date, shifting from a September 25, 2020, to October 16, 2020 wide release. Finally, The Forever Purge has a new wide release date of Friday, July 9, 2021. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/27/candyman-official-trailer]

Tyler "Ninja" Blevins announced that he will begin streaming on YouTube Gaming following the news that Microsoft will shut down Mixer. His first stream on YouTube ever premiered today, July 8. Ninja left Twitch in 2019 to join Mixer, but since the service will no longer exist at the end of July, all eyes were on Ninja to see whether he would return to Twitch or choose another platform. Ninja reportedly declined to join Facebook's streaming service. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ninja-career-highlights&captions=true"] Ninja made waves back in 2019 when he announced that he signed a deal with Microsoft to stream exclusively on Mixer. However, Microsoft has since announced that it will be shutting down Mixer and redirect streamers to Facebook instead. The news that Mixer was shutting down created tremors throughout the world of internet streaming. Partnered Mixer streamers were offered immediate partner status with Facebook Gaming, but for many other streamers it was a sudden and swift loss of both a platform and potential income. Meanwhile, Ninja, who reportedly signed an exclusivity deal rumored to be worth millions, declined to sign a similar deal with Facebook Gaming. He's since largely stuck to posting videos and updates on his YouTube channel. Ninja rose the prominence with the advent of Fortnite Battle Royale. Despite being a pro Halo player for years, Ninja's career exploded alongside the popularity of Epic's battle royale shooter. Ninja has since become one of the most recognizable video game streamer, and has made inroads into mainstream culture with appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)