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Kenya Barris, the creator of hit ABC sitcom Black-Ish, has been tapped to take on one of Black America’s most treasured series ever. Mr. Barris will be writing the script for a film adaptation of popular ’70’s series, Good Times.

Deadline got the exclusive scoop on Barris’ next big project, which will be coming from Sony Pictures. For those not in the know, Good Times featured a struggling Black family trying their best to survive in a Chicago housing project.

In its earlier incarnation, actor and comedian Jimmy Walker became the breakout star of Good Times as J.J. Evans. Esther Rolle, John Amos, Ja’Net DuBois, and Bern Nadette Stanis rounded out the cast, and was one of just a handful of shows that featured a primarily Black cast.

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Sony set up the project last year. Good Times, which aired on CBS from 1974-79, was among a number of socially aware Norman Lear-created sitcoms that became hits. The show was a spinoff of Maude, which itself was a spinoff of All In The Family. Good Times followed the struggles of working-class couple James and Florida Evans, who raised three kids through financial hardship as they tried to keep their kids away from trouble during a politically and socially turbulent time in a Chicago housing project. They are setting the movie in the 1960s.

Scott Rudin and Eli Bush are serving as producers.William Bannister, Michael Daniels and Neville Mouguel are the associate producers, and Eric Monte, Tammie Evans and Carlena Harris are the executive producers.

Photo: CBS