New 'Roots' is in the works

LaVar Burton starring as Kunta Kinte in the original “Roots” miniseries in 1977.

“Roots” — one of the most acclaimed TV mini-series of all time — is going to be remade by the History Channel. The cable network will launch a new eight-hour series, after acquiring the rights to the 12-hour 1977 original from Mark Wolper, son of “Roots” executive producer — the late David L. Wolper. Deadline.com reports the network also has purchased the rights to the original book, penned by the late historian Alex Haley.