Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane to reboot The Flintstones

The Flintstones is the latest property up for the reboot treatment, and animation guru Seth MacFarlane is exec-producing.

Produced by 20th Century Fox and Warner Brothers, MacFarlane’s 21st century take on the classic 60s animation will focus on “the lives of the Flintstones and the Rubbles, two hard-working middle-class families living with contemporary conveniences in the dinosaur-era town of Bedrock.”

If anyone needs telling, MacFarlane is the comic genius behind animated shows Family Guy , American Dad! and The Cleveland Show .

Commenting on his excitement, MacFarlane said, “The very first cartoon character I drew at age two was Fred Flintstone. So it’s appropriate that events have come full circle, allowing me to produce the newest incarnation of this great franchise.”

There's the suggestion this new version of The Flintstones could launch a movie spin-off, although that hasn't been confirmed yet. The new series will enter production later this year and is due to air in 2013.

The voice cast is yet to be announced, but we'd be pretty shocked if MacFarlane didn't take at least a couple of roles himself.

The popular 1960s cartoon hit the silver screen back in 1994, with John Goodman starring as Fred and Rick Moranis as Barney Rubble.

The film featured several cameos, including Elizabeth Taylor in her last appearance on film, director Sam Raimi and chat show king Jay Leno. Although the film did well at the box office, the critics panned it.

A less successful prequel was made six years later and the series has not been touched since.

It’s not yet known if production will disrupt filming on MacFarlane’s current movie project Ted , starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis, and featuring MacFarlane himself as the voice of the titular bear.

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