Modern remake of Roots will show on Lifetime, The History Channel, and A&E;

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The historic miniseries Roots will return to TV in 2016, The History Channel announced on Thursday
The History Channel in conjunction with Lifetime and A&E will revamp the story of a black family's struggle to survive during the slave era in America
LeVar Burton, who portrayed protagonist Kunta Kinte in the original, will co-executive produce the new miniseries

Published: 13:07 EST, 1 May 2015 | Updated: 15:16 EST, 1 May 2015

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The historic mini-series Roots will return to TV in 2016, The History Channel announced on Thursday.

The original television miniseries aired in 1977 and is based after the book Roots: The Saga of an American Family written by Alex Haley.

The History Channel in conjunction with Lifetime and A&E will revamp the story of a black family's struggle to survive during the slave era in America.

Classic story: The saga follows the character Kunta Kinte (pictured), an African who was captured then shipped to America where he was forced to work as a slave on a plantation

The story follows the character Kunta Kinte, an African who was captured then shipped to America where he was forced to work as a slave on a plantation.

LeVar Burton, who portrayed Kinte in the original, will co-executive produce the new miniseries with original cast member Will Packer and with Mark Wolpe.

'My career began with Roots and I am proud to be a part of this new adaptation,' Burton said in the statement.

'There is a huge audience of contemporary young Americans who do not know the story of Roots or its importance.

I believe now is the right time to tell this story so that we can all be reminded of its impact on our culture and identity.'

CNN reports that the new version will be 'original' and 'contemporary.'

Producers: LeVar Burton (pictured), who portrayed Kinte in the original, will co-executive produce the new miniseries with original cast member Will Packer and with Mark Wolpe

'Roots was a ground-breaking television milestone that has had an enduring effect on American culture,' said History Channel EVP and General Manager Dirk Hoogstra in a statement.

'We are privileged to be stewards of this universal story and will undertake its retelling with extreme care,' he continues.

A collection of well known TV writers such as Lawrence Konner (Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos), Mark Rosenthal (Mona Lisa Smile, Planet of the Apes), Alison McDonald (Alpha House, Nurse Jackie) and Charles Murray (Sons of Anarchy, Luke Cage) will write the new script.