Mike Epps Tapped By Producer As Lead For ABC’s “Uncle Buck”Posted by Wilson Morales
March 3, 2015
Source: Deadline
According to Deadline, actor-comedian Mike Epps and Nia Long have been tapped by producer Will Packer for the lead roles in ABC’s reboot of the TV adaptation of John Hughes’ 1989 comedy “Uncle Buck.”
John Candy starred in the original film as Buck, a bachelor and all round slob, who begins to forge his own sense of responsibility when he has to look after his nieces and nephews after the death of their parents. The film also starred Amy Madigan, with Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffmann, Macaulay Culkin, Jay Underwood, and Laurie Metcalf in supporting roles.
Like the movie, the series adaptation, written by Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley, centers on Buck Russell (Epps), a childish man who learns how to be an adult by taking care of his brother Will’s kids in a very childish way. Long will play Will’s strong-willed and smart wife.
Will Packer, Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley are exec producers for this Universal Television/ABC sitcom.
“Uncle Buck” was previously adapted as a television series on CBS in 1990. There, Kevin Meaney played the title character for what amounted to a single season of 22 episodes.
Epps most recently appears on Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse. He recently wrapped feature Meet the Blacks and will next be seen in the film Term Life and HBO’s biopic Bessie, while Long was last seen in the WE’s drama series The Divide, which wasn’t renewed for a second season. On the big screen, she was seen in Tyler Perry’s The Single Moms Club and and will next appear in Paul Feig’s Spy opposite Melissa McCarthy.
