Beloved Faith-Based Show From The ’80s Gets A Major Reboot

A nostalgic, feel-good series is heading to Fox for the 2027-28 television season.

It was just announced that “Highway to Heaven,” a remake of the classic 1980s show starring Michael Landon, is currently in the works. The series follows a “probationary” angel who must perform good deeds on Earth to earn his wings.

“I’m excited by the challenge of putting a contemporary lens on this classic tale,” showrunner Jason Katims (“Parenthood,” “Friday Night Lights”) said in a statement, per The Hollywood Reporter. “The idea of telling a very grounded, human story about an angel feels immediately emotional to me — and fun. I love going outside my comfort zone to tell a tale about someone trying to do better as an angel than he did as a man.”

Amblin and Michael Landon Productions are also involved in making the series. The original star of “Highway to Heaven” died in 1991 after battling pancreatic cancer. Landon is also known for his role on “Little House on the Prairie,” which is getting its own reboot released on Netflix in July 2026.

“Highway to Heaven has always been about connection, compassion and the idea that small acts can have big ripple effects and make a lasting difference,” Cindy Landon, Michael Landon’s widow and an executive producer of the new series, said in a statement. “I’m proud to help carry Michael’s legacy forward with partners like Fox and Amblin, who understand the heart of this series and are bringing it to a new generation at just the right moment.”

Cindy also shared the news on Instagram, writing, “‘Highway to Heaven’ was always more than a television show — it was about humanity, compassion, hope, and the power of touching people’s lives through storytelling. Michael poured his heart and soul into these stories, and I know this new chapter would mean so much to him. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone involved for believing in the heart of this series and having the vision to bring it to life once again.”

Landon told the Los Angeles Times in 1988 that “Highway to Heaven” was something he “had to get out of my system.”

Brandon Tartikoff, then-president of entertainment at NBC, told the outlet that Landon did the show to “give the audience a good cry.”

“You’re going to laugh or cry, one or the other — you’re not just going to watch a car chase,” Landon said of the original series. “I do the kind of shows that I like to sit down and watch with my family.”