Doogie Howser M.D. to get a female-led reboot on Disney+

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Doogie Howser M.D., Neil Patrick Harris, Doogie Kealoha M.D., Kourtney Kang

With medical professionals all over the world working around the clock to treat, contain, and combat the effects of coronavirus, this is either the best or the worst time to announce that a female-led reboot of ABC's classic half-hour medical comedy-drama series DOOGIE HOWSER M.D. is in development for a Disney+ debut!

The idea, which hails from HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and FRESH OFF THE BOAT alumna Kourtney Kang and 20th Century Fox TV, is currently operating under the working title DOOGIE KEALOHA M.D. According to Deadline, the female-fronted reboot will be set in Hawaii, and centers on a 16-year-old half Asian, half white girl who works as a doctor.

The original series starred Neil Patrick Harris as Doogie Howser M.D., a teenage physician who is forced to overcome daily doses of ageism on behalf of his many patients while also struggling with the trials and tribulations of still being a kid at heart. The original was created by renowned showrunners, the late Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley, and produced by Steven Bochco Prods. and 20th Century Fox TV.

Executive producing the reboot is Bocho's own widow, Dayna Bochco, alonside her son, Jesse Bochco, as well Kang, Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar. The DOOGIE KEALOHA M.D. concept is one of the latest ideas to be greenlit for Disney+, which continues to find new and entertaining ways to cater to their family-oriented audience. The original series lasted for four seasons, which was more than enough time for Harris and his kid doctor character to cement themselves as an everlasting icon of pop culture.

In other Neil Patrick Harris-related news, the Doogster and Dr. Horrible actor is set to join the cast of Lana Wachowski's upcoming Matrix sequel. The nature of Harris' character has yet to be revealed, though we do know he'll be assuming a key role for the hotly-anticipated trip down a cybernetic rabbit hole. Set to reprise their roles from the original Matrix trilogy are Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Jada Pinkett Smith, with Jessica Henwick, Jonathan Groff, Priyanka Chopra and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II also set to star.

Will you allow Disney+ to perscribe you some DOOGIE KEALOHA M.D.? Let us know in the comments section below.

Source: Deadline

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He's also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You'll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.