Fox to revive The Flintstones

The FlinstonesAmerican broadcaster Fox is planning to revive and update the classic animated series The Flintstones.

The broadcaster has handed the updating of the comedy cartoon series to Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy and The Cleveland Show, says the Hollywood Reporter. Production on the new version of The Flintstones will begin right away with a 2013 premier on Fox – giving the show plenty of time to prep. Seth MacFarlane has revealed much will remain the same about the series but it will be updated to reflect modern life such as “What’s the animal version of the iPod?. That’s the kind of thing we have to think about.”.

The Flintstones originally ran between 1960 and 1966 with 166 episodes being produced. It was one of a string of comedies created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera whose other notable hits included Scooby Doo, Yogi Bear, The Jetstones and Wacky Races. A number of specials of The Flintstones were produced after its end in 1966 and in 1994 a live-action Hollywood film version starring John Goodman, Elizabeth Perkins, Rosie O’Donnell, Kyle MacLachlan, Elisabeth Taylor and Halle Berry was produced.

There’s little doubting the popularity of The Flintstones remains strong with repeats on television regularly as well as DVD releases of the series.