NBC Is Resurrecting ‘Heroes’ As a 13-Episode Miniseries

Call it ’00s nostalgia or television following in the franchise restart-happy footsteps of the big movie studios — NBC is bringing back “Heroes,” its Tim Kring-created superhero drama that originally ran from 2006-2010. The network’s ordered a 13-episode standalone miniseries called “Heroes Reborn” for 2015, with Kring (who’s since created the now cancelled “Touch”) back on board.

According to NBC’s Jennifer Salke, “We’re thrilled that visionary creator Tim Kring was as excited about jumping back into this show as we were and we look forward to all the new textures and layers Tim plans to add to his original concept. Until we get closer to air in 2015, the show will be appropriately shrouded in secrecy, but we won’t rule out the possibility of some of the show’s original cast members popping back in.”

“Heroes” had a strong first season on NBC that was well rated and critically acclaimed, with an ensemble cast that included Greg Grunberg, Ali Larter, Masi Oka, Hayden Panettiere, Adrian Pasdar, Zachary Quinto and Milo Ventimiglia as ordinary characters who discovered they had superpowers that included flight, regeneration and unusual strength. Then it began to fell apart, giving way to erratic plot twists and reversals of loyalty, who’s good/evil and the rules of its own universe, limping on for three more seasons. But it’s possible that the miniseries approach will showcase the series (and Kring’s) strengths by having a finite arc.

“Heroes” isn’t the only series from the past decade getting a miniseries reboot — Fox has the 12-episode “24: Live Another Day” set for May 5th.