TV Reboots That Tried Race-Swapping Leads and Crashed Hard

As a longtime TV fan, I’ve noticed a trend lately: studios are constantly trying to bring back old favorites, but with a modern twist. Sometimes, they’ll even change the race or ethnicity of the main characters, hoping to give a familiar story a new spin. Honestly, it doesn’t always work! A lot of these reboots just don’t live up to the original series, and sadly, many of them have been canceled or haven’t been well-received. I’m going to talk about some shows that really struggled to find an audience.

‘Ironside’ (2013)

Blair Underwood took over the role of the detective, previously known for being played by Raymond Burr while using a wheelchair. The new version of the show was quickly criticized for casting an actor without a disability in a part so strongly associated with disability representation. After only three episodes, NBC cancelled the dark and realistic police drama because very few people were watching. Reviewers thought the remake didn’t have the same appealing qualities and intriguing puzzles that made the original show a hit.

‘Uncle Buck’ (2016)

Mike Epps starred in this ABC sitcom, taking on the role John Candy made famous. The show updated the story of the Russell family, setting it in Chicago and featuring an African-American cast. However, many viewers thought the series relied too much on predictable sitcom clichés and lacked the warmth of the original movie. Due to falling viewership, ABC canceled it after only one season.

‘Rush Hour’ (2016)

Look, I went into the Rush Hour TV series hoping for some of that classic Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan magic, but it just didn’t deliver. CBS tried to recreate the fun of the movies as a weekly police procedural, with Justin Hires and Jon Foo taking on the iconic roles. Unfortunately, the spark just wasn’t there – the leads lacked the incredible chemistry that made the films so enjoyable. It’s no surprise the show was cancelled after just one season, and honestly, the low ratings told the whole story. It just didn’t capture what made the originals special.

‘Training Day’ (2017)

This sequel to the Denzel Washington movie starred Justin Cornwell as a young Black officer working with a white detective, played by Bill Paxton, who wasn’t always clearly on the right side of the law. The show flipped the racial roles from the original film, but it didn’t create the same level of suspense. Sadly, production stopped when Bill Paxton passed away. CBS aired the remaining episodes but decided not to order another season.

‘Minority Report’ (2015)

Following the Tom Cruise film, Fox created a sequel series starring Meagan Good as detective Lara Vega. However, the show had trouble combining its complex science fiction ideas with the familiar format of a police drama. Viewership steadily declined, and after just one season, Fox reduced the number of episodes and ultimately cancelled the series.

’24: Legacy’ (2017)

Corey Hawkins took over the lead role in this new take on the ’24’ series. While the show kept the fast-paced, real-time style, it didn’t quite capture the magic of the original with Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer. Ratings were high initially, boosted by a premiere after the Super Bowl, but dropped off quickly. Ultimately, Fox canceled the action-packed show after only one season.

‘Charlie’s Angels’ (2011)

Annie Ilonzeh starred alongside Minka Kelly and Rachael Taylor in a new version of the 1970s series. While aiming for a darker, more realistic feel than the original, the show disappointed many longtime fans. After just four episodes, ABC cancelled it, and critics widely criticized both the performances and the weak writing.

‘Kojak’ (2005)

Ving Rhames starred in a remake of the classic detective show originally known for Telly Savalas and his signature lollipop. This new version, which aired on the USA Network, moved the action to present-day New York City. However, longtime fans felt it lacked the lighthearted charm of the original 1970s series and was overly somber. Ultimately, the show was canceled after just one season.

‘High Fidelity’ (2020)

Zoë Kravitz played the lead role in this reimagining of a popular novel and movie, taking on a character originally written as a male. The show, which streamed on Hulu, was praised for its music and acting. Despite building a dedicated fanbase, Hulu unexpectedly cancelled it after just one season, leading to strong reactions from disappointed viewers.

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (2021)

Netflix created a live-action version of the popular anime, starring John Cho as Spike Spiegel. However, the series had trouble capturing the original’s distinctive look and feel. Many viewers and critics found the show’s speed and special effects disappointing, and Netflix ultimately cancelled it just under a month after it first aired.

‘Resident Evil’ (2022)

Lance Reddick played Albert Wesker in this series, which was based on the popular video game. The show told its story across two different time periods and made many changes to the game’s original story. Fans reacted negatively, giving the series very low ratings because of the writing and how different it was from the games. As a result, Netflix cancelled the show soon after the first season finished.

‘Party of Five’ (2020)

Freeform’s reimagining of the 1990s drama followed the Acosta children as they dealt with life after their parents were deported to Mexico. The show explored important political issues through the experiences of teenagers, but unfortunately, ratings were consistently low. After airing its first season of ten episodes, the network decided to cancel the series.

‘4400’ (2021–2022)

The CW recently revived the sci-fi show ‘The 4400,’ featuring a largely Black cast to examine themes of history and civil rights. The series centered around 4400 people who had disappeared over the past hundred years and suddenly reappeared, showing no signs of aging. However, ratings declined rapidly because the storyline became overly complicated and, for some, felt like it was pushing a specific agenda. Ultimately, the network canceled the new version after only one season.

‘Tom Swift’ (2022)

This show, a spin-off from ‘Nancy Drew,’ starred a Black, gay billionaire inventor as its main character. While it tried to combine science fiction and mystery, it didn’t attract many viewers. The CW cancelled it after its first season due to very low ratings, and it remains one of the network’s least-watched series.

‘Head of the Class’ (2021)

I recently checked out the HBO Max reboot, and Isabella Gomez was charming as the teacher at the center of it all, guiding a class full of seriously driven high school students. While it did update the original’s diverse cast – which was great to see – I felt the show pulled its punches a bit when it came to the humor. It just wasn’t as sharp as I remembered the ’80s version being. Sadly, it only lasted one season, caught in the streaming service’s big content cut. Ultimately, it didn’t quite capture the same cultural buzz as the original series, which is a shame.

‘National Treasure: Edge of History’ (2022–2023)

Lisette Olivera played a young woman pursuing a legendary Pan-American treasure in this Disney+ series, which was based on the popular film franchise. However, without Nicolas Cage and the same exciting feel as the movies, the show didn’t resonate with viewers. Critics and fans found the storyline and the speed of the treasure hunts disappointing, and Disney+ ultimately cancelled it after just one season.

‘Queer as Folk’ (2022)

Peacock created a new version of a popular British and American show, setting it in New Orleans and featuring a diverse group of actors. The story followed friends trying to move forward after a devastating event at a nightclub. However, many viewers found the new show’s serious and somber mood didn’t match the more upbeat feel of the original, and the streaming service ultimately cancelled it after one season.

‘Saved by the Bell’ (2020–2021)

The new version of Saved by the Bell on Peacock brought together a fresh group of students with familiar faces like Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley. The show cleverly poked fun at issues of wealth and social class within the high school setting. Although critics praised its humor, the series didn’t attract a large enough audience and was cancelled by Peacock after just two seasons.

‘Gossip Girl’ (2021–2023)

HBO Max brought back the teen drama Gossip Girl with a new cast that was more diverse and explored different sexualities, focusing on the lives of privileged students at a Manhattan private school. Unlike the original, the new version immediately revealed who Gossip Girl was. However, many viewers and critics didn’t connect with the characters or find the storylines as entertaining as the first series, and the show was cancelled after only two seasons.

‘The Wonder Years’ (2021–2023)

This updated version of the beloved coming-of-age story, set in 1960s Alabama and following a Black family, was narrated by Don Cheadle. While the show sought to recapture the heartwarming feeling of the original, it also shed light on the struggles and triumphs of the civil rights movement. Unfortunately, viewership dropped in the second season, and ABC ultimately decided to cancel the series, meaning there wouldn’t be a third season.

‘Quantum Leap’ (2022–2024)

Raymond Lee played Dr. Ben Song in this follow-up to the popular series starring Scott Bakula. The show centered on a new group of people trying to unravel the secrets of the original time-travel experiment. Although it was renewed for a second season, ratings declined, and NBC ultimately cancelled the sci-fi drama after it finished airing.

‘Fantasy Island’ (2021–2023)

Roselyn Sánchez starred as Elena Roarke in this follow-up to the well-known anthology series. The show centered around guests visiting an upscale resort where their biggest desires were fulfilled with a contemporary spin. After two seasons, Fox cancelled it due to declining viewership. The series had difficulty standing out amongst the many other reboots and revivals on television.

‘Velma’ (2023–2024)

Mindy Kaling starred as Velma in a new, adult animated series that served as a prequel to ‘Scooby-Doo.’ This version of the story featured a South Asian Velma and didn’t include Scooby-Doo at all, instead leaning into more mature themes with graphic violence and self-aware humor. The show received overwhelmingly negative reactions from viewers, resulting in extremely low ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. Ultimately, Max cancelled the series after two seasons.

‘Heathers’ (2018)

This darkly humorous series offered a fresh take on the 1988 cult classic, flipping the script by portraying a group of high school misfits as the popular kids. However, its release was troubled, facing delays and ultimately being shown over only a few nights due to concerns about its depiction of school violence. Critics disliked the show, feeling it missed the original film’s clever social commentary, and a planned second season was canceled.

‘Anne Boleyn’ (2021)

I recently watched the Channel 5 miniseries starring Jodie Turner-Smith as the queen, and while I found her performance genuinely compelling, the show itself was a bit of a mixed bag. It’s a psychological thriller told over three parts, and honestly, the casting – a brilliant Black actress taking on this historical role – became a bigger story than the show itself. It unfortunately sparked a lot of online negativity and review bombing, and sadly, it seemed to affect viewership – numbers dropped off pretty quickly after the first episode. The script, while aiming for drama, often felt a little over the top for my taste, but Turner-Smith really did elevate the material.

‘Troy: Fall of a City’ (2018)

The BBC and Netflix series, starring David Gyasi as Achilles, intentionally featured a diverse cast portraying characters from Greek mythology. While aiming for a realistic and intense depiction of the Trojan War, similar to ‘Game of Thrones’, the show received criticism for appearing low-budget and for taking liberties with historical and mythological accuracy. Ultimately, it was cancelled after one season.

‘Let the Right One In’ (2022)

Demián Bichir led the cast of this series, which was based on a popular Swedish vampire novel and movie. While the story moved to New York City and added more detail to the vampire virus’s origins, Showtime cancelled it after just one season and took it off their streaming service. Ultimately, the show didn’t recreate the suspenseful mood that made the original film so well-received.

‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ (2023)

This musical series, a prequel to the popular movie, showed how the Pink Ladies group first formed, with a diverse group of actors. While set in the 1950s, the show used current pop songs, which some found jarring. Unfortunately, Paramount+ quickly cancelled it after one season and later removed it from their streaming service for financial reasons.

‘Willow’ (2022)

Disney+ created a follow-up series to the 1988 fantasy movie, bringing back Warwick Davis alongside a new, diverse cast. However, the show’s style changed drastically, using language more typical of modern teen dramas, which disappointed many fans of the original film. After just one season, Disney cancelled the series and removed it entirely from Disney+, signaling a move away from costly fantasy productions.

‘Batwoman’ (2019–2022)

Ruby Rose initially played Batwoman, but left after season one. Javicia Leslie was then brought in to play a new version of the character, Ryan Wilder. However, viewership decreased over the show’s three seasons, and The CW ultimately decided to cancel the series.

‘The Twilight Zone’ (2019–2020)

Jordan Peele brought back the classic show The Twilight Zone, hosting and narrating a new version with a diverse group of actors. While the original series hinted at deeper meanings, these episodes often directly addressed social issues. Many viewers found the endings easy to guess and missed the thrilling suspense of the 1960s show. After two seasons, CBS All Access decided to cancel the series.

‘Good Times’ (2024)

Netflix recently revived the classic 1970s sitcom about the Evans family with a new animated series. However, the show quickly faced criticism for relying on harmful stereotypes instead of positively representing the community. Both viewers and critics found the humor offensive and the animation quality to be poor, resulting in very low ratings and a quick disappearance from popular viewing.

‘Queen Cleopatra’ (2023)

Adele James played Cleopatra in this documentary-style drama, which was narrated by Jada Pinkett Smith. The decision to portray Cleopatra as Black caused significant international debate and even led to a legal challenge from lawyers in Egypt. The series received extremely low ratings from both viewers and critics. As a result, Netflix decided not to create any more seasons in this particular format.

Please share your thoughts on these reboot attempts in the comments.

2026-01-07 16:51