Bryton James wants to make a Family Matters reboot, but there’s a twist

Family Matters is back in conversation this week after actor Bryton James revealed an unusual plan to reboot the show as an animated series. James told Entertainment Weekly he wants to update classic episodes for a new audience and bring back the original cast as voice actors.

He said a production company had been lined up to help finance early development, but the idea is now with Warner Bros. Animation and has not been greenlit. James argued animation would capture the show’s playful, sometimes fantastical moments while allowing actors to record in different cities.

He says he is still pursuing the idea, which remains a proposal rather than an active series, and fans are watching for any studio decision. The plan is framed as a respectful update that keeps the Winslow family and their stories at the center while adjusting details for today.

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What is Bryton James proposing for Family Matters?

Bryton James wants to turn the old sitcom into an animated show that updates episodes and brings the original actors back to provide voice work. He said the idea would let writers keep the Winslow family at the centre while modernizing jokes, settings, and story details.

James also said animation would make it easier to show big, unusual scenes and let actors record from different cities. Fans of Family Matters might see familiar moments presented in a new way.

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Where does the animated plan stand now?

Bryton James told reporters he “got pretty far along” with the concept and that a production company had agreed to finance early development. But he added that the proposal is now with Warner Bros. Animation and has not been greenlit.

A studio source confirmed they know about the idea but said it has not moved into active development, so the project is still in an early phase. The Family Matters rights and studio approvals will shape how quickly anything can move forward.

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Cast reactions and practical steps for Family Matters

Some former cast members have been clear that they will only return for projects that add creative value and respect the original work. Jaleel White previously said he would not support a reboot he saw as purely a cash grab, and that has shaped how fans and creators talk about any new version.

Bryton James said a 2018 reunion helped him reconnect with colleagues and that those conversations fed his pitch, but he also noted practical issues such as rights, contracts, and the fact that some original actors are no longer alive. For Family Matters, the cast's views on tone and legacy play a major role in planning.

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How an animated reboot could look?

If a studio approves the idea, creators would likely keep family themes at the centre and update the show’s setting and references for today. Animation could allow writers to balance simple family scenes with more outlandish moments, which were part of the original show's appeal.

An animated Family Matters could show both everyday life and the kind of wild inventions that once drove plots. Decisions about tone, casting, and how to honor the show’s history will determine whether the animated approach moves forward.

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For now, the animated twist remains a proposal Bryton James is still trying to move forward with. The plan shows one way to bring a familiar sitcom into a new format, but it will need studio approval, clear rights agreements, and careful creative work before it becomes real.

Until a studio says yes, Family Matters remains an idea, and fans will wait for any official announcement as a proposal.