Deadline is reporting original cast member Malik Yoba is returning to reprise his starring role in ABC’s pilot for New York Undercover, a contemporary reboot of Dick Wolf’s 1990s series, from Wolf and Hand of God creator Ben Watkins. It will be produced by Wolf Films, Universal TV, where the company is based, and ABC Studios.
Yoba will once again play J.C. Williams in the revival. But while J.C. was a young undercover detective during the show’s original Fox run, now he’ll be overseeing the unit and training the next generation of detectives.
Anthony Hemingway (Underground, American Crime Story) will direct the pilot written by Watkins based on a story by Wolf and Watkins. .
New York Undercover picks up 20 years after the end of the original series that changed the face of TV cop dramas. It will follow detectives Nat Gilmore and Melissa Ortiz as they investigate the city’s most dangerous criminals from Harlem to Battery Park.
Wolf, Watkins and Hemingway executive produce with Wolf Films’ Arthur Forney and Peter Jankowski. The pilot will begin filming in early March in New York.
Created by Wolf and Kevin Arkadie, New York Undercover aired on Fox for four seasons, between 1994-98. It starred Malik Yoba and Michael DeLorenzo as two undercover detectives in New York City’s Fourth Precinct. It was the first police drama on American television to feature two people of color in the starring roles. The original series rebooted itself in the fourth and final season with a largely new cast joining Yoba and Season 2 addition Lauren Velez as the other series regulars exited. Yoba is the only main cast member to appear in all four seasons.
Yoba was a series regular on Fox’s Empire and has recurred on CBS’ God Friended Me, TBS’ The Last O.G., and ABC’s Designated Survivor. He also was a series regular on the upcoming first season of BET’s First Wives Club.
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