TV Reboots That Erased Original Black Characters

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Many TV reboots try to update older shows for today’s audiences, often focusing on diversity and inclusion. However, some of these updated series have surprisingly removed or changed characters who were originally played by Black actors. This can mean completely cutting a character or replacing them with someone of a different race. This article looks at several popular TV reboots and revivals where original Black characters were either changed or removed from the story.

‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)

The updated science fiction series made a notable change to the character of Boomer. In the original 1978 show, Boomer was played by Herbert Jefferson Jr., who is Black. However, the 2004 version featured Grace Park as a female pilot named Sharon Valerii, also known as Boomer. This meant the character’s race changed from Black to Asian, and was done as part of an overall effort to modernize the show and its characters.

‘Charmed’ (2018–2022)

In the original ‘Charmed’ series, Darryl Morris was a crucial friend and police contact for the Halliwell sisters. Actor Dorian Gregory played the detective who supported the magical sisters for seven seasons, even putting his job and safety on the line. When ‘Charmed’ was rebooted in 2018 with a new set of sisters, Darryl Morris wasn’t included, and a different character handled the police connection. This meant the reboot lost a significant Black character who had been part of the original show’s story.

‘MacGyver’ (2016–2021)

The original ‘MacGyver’ series included the Colton family, a group of bounty hunters who occasionally worked alongside the main character. Cuba Gooding Jr. played Billy Colton in several popular episodes. However, when ‘MacGyver’ was rebooted in 2016, the Coltons weren’t included, despite their popularity on the original show. The reboot chose a different supporting cast, leaving out these well-liked Black characters who had been favorites in the eighties.

‘Melrose Place’ (2009–2010)

Rhonda Blair was one of the original stars of ‘Melrose Place’ when it premiered in 1992. Vanessa A. Williams, who played Rhonda, was the show’s only Black main cast member in its first season. When the show was revived in 2009, Rhonda’s character wasn’t included. The reboot featured a new set of characters, and there wasn’t a similar role to fill the space Rhonda’s character originally held, resulting in a loss of the show’s initial diversity.

‘Gossip Girl’ (2021–2023)

Vanessa Abrams was a key character in the original ‘Gossip Girl’ series, which aired from 2007 to 2011. Actress Jessica Szohr played her as an up-and-coming filmmaker who frequently found herself at odds with the privileged teens of the Upper East Side. When ‘Gossip Girl’ was revived in 2021, it featured a completely new cast of characters. Vanessa wasn’t included in the reboot, and no character was created to take her place, effectively concluding her storyline within the new version of the show.

‘Saved by the Bell’ (2020–2021)

Lisa Turtle was a key character on ‘Saved by the Bell’ during the show’s original run, played by Lark Voorhies. She was one of the main group of friends. However, in the 2020 revival, she was the only original teen lead not asked to return as a regular or even a recurring character. She only made a few brief appearances via video calls and quick cameos, which was a much smaller role than the one given to her former costars.

‘V’ (2009–2011)

In the original ‘V’ miniseries from 1983 and the following TV show in 1984, Elias Taylor was a key figure in the fight against the alien Visitors. Actor Michael Wright played Elias, a former criminal who became a hero. However, the 2009 remake of ‘V’ didn’t include Elias or a character with a similar story. The new resistance group was entirely different and didn’t carry on his legacy, which meant a significant Black perspective was missing from the battle against the aliens.

‘Knight Rider’ (2008–2009)

The classic TV show ‘Knight Rider’ featured a character named Reginald Cornelius III, or RC3, starting in the fourth season. Actor Peter Parros played RC3, who worked with Michael Knight and kept KITT, the show’s high-tech car, running smoothly. However, when the show was revived in 2008, RC3 was left out of the new version entirely. The reboot introduced new characters and a different team setup, effectively removing the show’s main Black character from the original series.

‘The Tomorrow People’ (2013–2014)

In the 1992 version of ‘The Tomorrow People,’ a Black actress, Naomie Harris, played a main character named Ami, who had the power to move objects with her mind and read thoughts. When the show was rebooted in 2013, this character was missing. The new series focused on a different group of people with special abilities and a new cast. Fans of the original British show pointed out that Ami’s presence had been important for representation and was notably absent from the reboot.

‘90210’ (2008–2013)

Vivica A. Fox played Jordan Bonner on the original ‘Beverly Hills, 90210,’ and she was a significant character in the second season, serving as a love interest. When the show was rebooted in 2008, Jordan and her family were not included. The new series focused on a completely new group of students and parents. This meant the reboot didn’t feature a prominent Black character who had been part of the original show’s story.

‘S.W.A.T.’ (2017–Present)

The movie ‘S.W.A.T.’ from 2003 starred LL Cool J as Deacon Deke Kay. When the show was revived as a TV series in 2017, the role was played by Jay Harrington. This meant the character went from being portrayed by a Black actor to a white actor. Although the show still included diversity, this particular character’s background was changed. Deacon Kay remains a leading member of the tactical team in both versions.

‘Training Day’ (2017)

The movie ‘Training Day,’ released in 2001, is well-known for Denzel Washington’s portrayal of the crooked detective Alonzo Harris, a role that won him an Oscar and made the character a memorable figure in film. When the story was revived as a TV show in 2017, a significant change was made: the lead detective, now named Frank Roarke and played by Bill Paxton, was white, while his new rookie partner was a Black actor. This switch completely flipped the racial roles that were so important to the original movie’s plot.

‘Beauty and the Beast’ (2012–2016)

The 1987 TV show ‘Beauty and the Beast’ included a character named Edie, played by Ren Woods, who was part of a community living in tunnels under the city. When the show was revived in 2012, it moved away from this underground setting. Because of this change, characters like Edie and others from that world were left out of the reboot. The new series had a more case-of-the-week structure and featured different takes on the main characters.

‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)

In the original 1978 series, Colonel Tigh was played by Terry Carter and depicted as a Black officer. However, the 2004 reimagining of the show changed the character, now named Saul Tigh, and was played by Michael Hogan. This meant the role previously held by a Black actor was given to a white actor. Throughout the four seasons of the reboot, Saul Tigh became a key character in the fleet’s fight to survive, and this change in casting noticeably altered how the colonial leaders were visually represented.

‘The Fugitive’ (2020)

The television series ‘The Fugitive’ originally featured Mykelti Williamson as Lieutenant Philip Gerard, a determined lawman pursuing the main character. When the show was rebooted in 2020, Kiefer Sutherland took on the role of Agent Clay Bryce, the lead investigator. This meant the antagonist, who was Black in the original series, was now played by a white actor. The new version of the show updated the story as a modern-day manhunt with a fresh team of law enforcement officers.

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2025-12-24 22:16