(Photo: Netflix)

The animated reboot of the Good Times series has a premiere date. The new family comedy will arrive on Netflix in April, and the streaming service has released a trailer and poster. Ten episodes were ordered in September 2020.

Featuring the voices of Yvette Nicole Brown, J.B. Smoove, Wanda Sykes, Jay Pharoah, Marsai Martin, Slink Johnson, and Rashida “Sheedz” Olayiwola, the Good Times series follows a new generation of the Chicago-based Evans family featured in the 1970s live-action series. The original was created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans (and developed by executive producer Norman Lear,

Showrunner Ranada Shepard said the following about the upcoming series, per TUDUM:

“It’s about a Black family that comes together, laughs together, and survives the system on the South Side of Chicago. What you’ll get from that is a lot of social commentary, a lot of pushing the boundaries, a lot of feel-good television, but also a lot of things that may be in the vein of The Simpsons and South Park and Family Guy. When you’re looking back 10 years later, you’ll be like, ‘They said that on Good Times?’ Oh my gosh.”

Lear was also involved in this version as an executive producer and was even featured in an episode. Shepard said the following about Lear’s involvement in what turned out to be his final project.

“Norman was completely supportive of me as a showrunner, a creative, a writer, even as a visionary, to take a piece of material that he had produced prior in his career and watch as I took it to another level and pushed the boundaries. He showed up for our meetings, our Zooms, our table reads, and made an impact on how we were able to produce this series.”

It was a really special, sweet moment, to have him in the booth. He was like, ‘I’m not going to read these words.’ I can imagine [the text] must have been so small, and he’s like, ‘Yeah, just tell me the lines, and I’ll say them back.’ Rest in peace, Norman Lear.”

Good Times arrives on Netflix on April 12th. The trailer and poster for the series are below.

(Photo: Netflix)

What do you think? Are you a fan of the original Good Times? Do you plan to watch this new Netflix series?