Family Guy creator to revive Flintstones

Flintstones, meet the Flintstones ... again. The prehistoric cartoon series featuring Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble is being revived by the creator of Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane.

The new version of the animated series, which originally ran in the US on ABC between 1960 and 1966 – and has been repeated virtually ever since – will air on Rupert Murdoch's Fox network.

MacFarlane promised a modern take on the show featuring the adventures of Fred and Wilma, their neighbours Barney and Betty, and their children Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm.

"What's the animal version of the iPod? That's the kind of thing we have to think about," said MacFarlane.

"One of the first things that I drew when I was two years old was Fred Flintstone," he added. "So it's appropriate that events have come full circle, allowing me to produce the newest incarnation of this great franchise. Plus, I think America is finally ready for an animated sitcom about a fat, stupid guy with a wife who's too good for him."

Fans will be hoping the new version of the show is better than the 1994 big-screen spin-off starring John Goodman which prompted the review: "Yabba-dabba-don't". However, the film grossed $358m worldwide at the box office, according to IMDb.

Fox said production on the show would begin immediately with it due to debut on the network on 2013.

"Fox has long been home to iconic families like the Simpsons and the Griffins, so I have no doubt that the Flintstones and the Rubbles are going to fit right in on our air," Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly told the Hollywood Reporter.

Heavily influenced by the Flintstones' original producers Hanna-Barbera – for whom he was an animator and writer – MacFarlane's Family Guy debuted on Fox in 1999.

He went on to co-create American Dad!, as well as Family Guy spin-off, The Cleveland Show. All of the shows air on Fox.

The Flintstones will be jointly produced by Fox and Warner Bros.

 To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".