‘Highway to Heaven’ Reboot Starring Jill Scott, Barry Watson Coming to Lifetime

The 1980s drama series Highway to Heaven is getting a remake on Lifetime, with Jill Scott (First Wives Club) cast as the protagonist alongside Barry Watson (The Loudest Voice), the network announced Thursday.

The new movie series will star Scott as an angel named Angela, who comes down to Earth to help people in crisis. She reveals her true identity to junior high school principal Bruce (Watson).

“Jill amplifies everything she touches in ways that make her pop off the screen,” Tanya Lopez, EVP of scripted programming for Lifetime & LMN, said in a statement. “And the addition of Barry was just icing on the cake. I believe we have assembled a dynamic new duo with both Jill and Barry at the helm.”

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The network describes the reboot as a chance to “inspire hope and community as it addresses contemporary social and emotional issues, this time with a female angel as the anchor of the movie series.”

The original Highway to Heaven was a television drama series starring Michael Landon. It premiered in 1984 on NBC, and also revolved around an angel sent to Earth to help people.

The new movie series has been approved by Cindy Landon and the Michael Landon Estate and the first film in the series is produced by Rain Productions and Propagate for Lifetime. Jonathan Baruch and Rob Wolken executive produce for Rain Productions; Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Gregory Lipstone and Rodney Ferrell executive produce from Propagate.

Scott is also one of the executive producers along with Howard Braunstein and Shawn Gee. Cindy Landon and Wayne Lepoff are executive producing on behalf of Michael Landon’s estate.

Stacey K. Black directs from an original script by executive producer/writer Cathryn Humphris and award-winning playwright Angelica Chéri.

The first film is expected to be released later this fall and will showcase Angela coming to Earth as a temporary school counselor at the junior high where Bruce works while she tries to help some of his students navigate the tragedies in their lives.