Fox has quietly greenlit a revival of the 1980s drama Highway To Heaven for the 2027–28 broadcast season, tapping writer‑producer Jason Katims to rework Michael Landon’s original premise for modern audiences. The move, announced alongside Fox’s ongoing reboot lineup, signals the network’s bet that earnest, character‑driven stories still have a place on primetime television.
Industry sources say Katims — known for emotionally grounded series such as Friday Night Lights and Parenthood — will both write and run the new Highway To Heaven, aiming to preserve the original’s compassionate core while updating its outlook and settings for today. The reboot will keep the central concept of an angel sent to Earth to help people in need, but it will be reframed through a contemporary lens.
Katims’ track record in creating intimate, community‑focused drama is likely a key reason Fox selected him. He earned wide critical recognition and an Emmy for his work on Friday Night Lights, and producers hope his voice can translate the show’s sentimental roots into narratives that feel relevant to current viewers.
- Planned premiere: 2027–28 TV season
- Showrunner/writer: Jason Katims
- Production partners: Amblin Television, Michael Landon Productions and series producers including Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Todd Cohen, Mark Itkin, Cindy Landon and Wayne Lepoff
- Premise: A modern take on a probationary angel’s journey to earn his wings by helping people on Earth
- Original run: Created and starred in by Michael Landon on NBC, 1984–1989
The revival will be produced in partnership with Amblin Television and include involvement from Michael Landon’s production company, linking the new iteration to the original’s legacy while bringing in contemporary showrunners and studio resources. Katims is set to serve as executive producer and showrunner, with several veteran producers attached.
For viewers, the significance is twofold: nostalgically minded audiences get a familiar title back on broadcast TV, while newer viewers are offered a serialized drama built around themes of redemption and community — topics that have shown durable appeal in an era of fragmented streaming choices.
Fox’s decision also follows its plan to reintroduce other legacy properties over the next two seasons; a Baywatch reboot is scheduled for the 2026–27 season, providing a stopgap of event television ahead of Highway To Heaven’s return. That staggered rollout suggests the network is mapping a broader strategy to lure viewers with recognizable brands reshaped for modern tastes.
What remains uncertain is casting, tone and episode structure: whether the reboot will favor stand‑alone morality plays like the original or adopt more serialized arcs remains to be seen. Production timelines, casting announcements and promotional plans are expected to surface closer to development milestones over the next year.
Ultimately, the Highway To Heaven revival is more than a nostalgic exercise; it reflects a broader industry pattern in which networks mine familiar franchises for stories that reassure and connect, while trying to compete with the depth and character focus that many streaming dramas deliver today.
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