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    Jessica Biel Is Making 7th Heaven a Reboot With “Less Limitations”

    soreceryBy No Comments13 Mins Read

    Watch: Jessica Biel, Justin Timberlake’s Son Silas Timberlake Makes Acting Debut

    Jessica Biel has some heavenly news to share.

    Nearly 20 years after 7th Heaven ended, the actress behind the iconic Mary Camden, confirmed that she’s producing a reboot of the long-running hit series. And though Biel know there’s no greater feeling than the love of family, the new show won’t be an exact repeat of the original.

    “What we want to create, how we want to modernize it, is really the things that are happening for teenagers and families that have teenagers all the way down to the youngest child,” Biel explained on the Oct. 22 episode of Collider’s Ladies Night podcast, “technology-based issues, school stuff, bullying stuff, drugs, alcohol.”

    “All of those things we want to address in a very real way, which is, I think, what the original kind of gently touched on,” she continued, “but we were very careful about what our audience wanted. We had a lot of limitations. We have less limitations now.”

    Plus, Biel—who shares sons Silas, 11, and Phineas, 6, with husband Justin Timberlake—thinks a new version of the show could fill a void in the current television landscape.

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    Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake’s Family Photos Prove They’re Still in 7th Heaven

    “I’m looking for what I can watch with my kids on television,” the 44-year-old noted. “It’s limited. I cannot watch a lot of these things with them, and they love TV, and it’s my business. My husband and I are in this business together doing these things, and we can’t share a lot of that with our kids.”

    With much of what to expect from a new iteration of 7th Heaven up in the air, she intends to keep faith at the center.

    Kevin Winter/Getty Images

    “I think the idea of whatever faith you want to have, that’s important,” she said. “That we don’t have a lot on television, whether you believe that or go down that road or not. There are a lot of people that really do want to walk down that road, so I think some kind of faith, some kind of family, community, and maybe something not so jaded, like something a little bit more glass-half-full. It’s not that it’s soft, because it’s realistic.”

    Additionally, as a producer on the project, Biel—who didn’t say whether she intends to appear in the show herself—wants to create a “safe place for people to be really creative and really vulnerable.”

    Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

    “When I’m on set as a producer, I’m always thinking about the safety net of the set and the communication that you hope you can have,” she emphasized, “free-flowing communication with your actors and your crew.”

    “A lot of the stuff that I’m doing now, the content that I’m doing now, it’s emotional stuff,” the Sinner actress went on. “It’s people really putting themselves out there on the chopping block emotionally, and if you don’t have that space protected, I think it’s hard. It’s hard to give those kinds of performances.”

    While fans wait to see when the new 7th Heaven hits screens, take a look at the cast then and now.

    Globe Photos/ZUMA Wire; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images

    Catherine HicksAlready an Emmy nominee (for stepping into Marilyn Monroe‘s heels for the 1980 TV movie Marilyn: The Untold Story) when she signed on to play Camden family matriarch Annie, the New York native continued to rack up roles in small screen films such as 2011’s A Valentine’s Day Date, 2012’s A Christmas Wedding Date and 2015’s A Christmas Reunion.Though the mom to daughter Caitlin Yagher (with special effects make-up artist husband of more than 30 years, Kevin Yagher) took a brief hiatus from the Lifetime and Hallmark Channel circuit after 2016’s Honeymoon From Hell, she was back in TV action last year, voicing a fairy in JJ Villard’s Fairy Tales on Cartoon Network. And she could clearly be persuaded to return to Glenoak with a few necessary modifications. Raise your hand if you’re ready to see Annie get her groove back!

    Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

    Stephen CollinsCollins had a thriving career before donning Eric Camden’s clerical collar thanks to parts in 1976’s All the President’s Men, 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture and 1996’s The First Wives Clubs. And as the patriarch of 7th Heaven, he leaned hard into his family man image, even serving as a lay eucharistic minister at Beverly Hills’ All Saints Church.Post-show, he booked gigs on Private Practice, No Ordinary Family, Scandal and Devious Maids, but everything unraveled after he filed to divorce actress Faye Grant, his wife of nearly 30 years, in 2012. Two years later, in the midst of an increasingly nasty split, TMZ obtained a tape in which Collins purportedly spoke with a therapist about his inappropriate contact with three minors. (Despite acknowledging she made the recording, Grant denied having any involvement in leaking it.)Though the dad to daughter Kate opened up to Katie Couric about the experiences involving a 10-year-old, a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old and apologized for “any pain I have caused these three women,” he has not worked since 2014. He now lives in Iowa with his wife Jenny Nagel. 

    Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

    Jessica BielArguably the most famous Camden alum, the series’ wild child has also been the least likely to return to the fold. “I think I definitely sort of butted up against those limitations and those boundaries for a multitude of reasons,” she told the Awards Chatter podcast in 2018 of her experience. “Because, yeah you know, you can only do so much with a particular character specifically on a show like that. We really had to sort of stay in the boundaries of a somewhat religious family and teaching lessons, and when, you know you’re 16, 14, 15, 16, you get to a point when you’re like oh man, I just want to do something different. I just want to cut my hair, and I just want to dye it a different color and I can’t do all these things because I have this contract.”Ultimately she did cut her hair, she recalled and “I got in a lot of trouble for that. I had to apologize to everybody, which is sort of the theme of my experience on 7th Heaven. I was always apologizing.” And this was before the then-17-year-old decided to pose topless for men’s magazine Gear in 2000.Following her exit from the fictional town of Glenoak, Biel focused mainly on film roles, collecting parts in 2010’s The A-Team, 2011’s New Year’s Eve, 2012’s Total Recall and Hitchcock, 2016’s A Kind of Murder before returning to the small screen as executive producer and star of Sinner in 2017.In her personal life, she is wife to Justin Timberlake and mom to sons Silas and Phineas.

    © Globe Photos/ZUMA Wire; Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

    Beverley MitchellWith years’ worth of credits to her name when she nabbed the part of wild AF preacher’s daughter Lucy at age 15, Mitchell is the first to call herself #blessed. “I have been acting since I was 4 and have loved each and every minute of it,” she wrote on her lifestyle website Growing Up Hollywood.She’s very much still in the biz with a two-year stint on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, a handful of Lifetime films and even two seasons of Pop’s Hollywood Darlings that saw her, Jodie Sweetin and Christine Lakin play exaggerated versions of themselves. “But most days,” she detailed in her Instagram bio, she’s “juggling #momlife.” After a heartbreaking 2018 miscarriage of her twins, Mitchell and accountant husband Michael Cameron welcomed their third child, daughter Mayzel, in 2020. They are also parents to Kenzie and Hutton. 

    Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HB

    Barry WatsonThe eldest child flew the Camden coop in 2002 after six seasons as a regular when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He later went into remission and returned for guests spots as he shot movies like 2004’s Love on the Side and 2005’s Boogeyman until 2006 when he nabbed the lead role in the short-lived comedy What About Brian.A small screen fixture, he’s had substantial runs on Samantha Who?, Gossip Girl (as Serena Van der Woodsen’s boyfriend), Hart of Dixie and Date My Dad, a 2017 comedy that saw the widower’s trio of daughters try to fix him up. In real life, though, he’s had no trouble in that department. In 2014, the twice-wed dad of Oliver and Felix married Natasha Gregson Wagner, mom to daughter Clover. 

    Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

    David GallagherSteadily working since the age of 2, transitioning from print advertorials and television commercials to voicing Mikey in the final installment of Kirstie Alley and John Travolta‘s Look Who’s Talking trilogy, the New York City native has collected some 50 credits across his 30-plus year career. Since graduating from his part as middle child Simon and then, subsequently, the University of Southern California, where he majored in film and television studies, the five-time Young Artist Award nominee and Teen Choice Award winner has appeared on Numb3rs, The Vampire Diaries and pretty much every version of CSI. In addition to voicing Riku in the Kingdom Hearts video game series, he’s worked on crime series D.P.D. Echo 1.

    Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

    Mackenzie RosmanLike her older onscreen sis, little Ruthie Camden shocked her squeaky clean fanbase when she posed for a sexy Maxim shoot in 2013. By then, she’d booked a handful of post-7th Heaven credits, including a four-episode stint on The Secret Life of the American Teenager and TV movie Ghost Shark.But it’s her other passion that fills up her Instagram feed, the equestrienne show jumper a fixture on the competitive circuit. Having lost stepsister Katelyn Salmont to cystic fibrosis, Rosman also devotes much of her time to working with charities such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Childhelp Inc. and CureFinders. 

    Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

    George StultsAll in the family: With younger brother Geoff Stults already recurring as Mary’s love interest Ben Kinkirk, the college wrestler auditioned for a bit part on the series, only to land a regular role as Ben’s older brother Kevin who romances and, eventually weds, Lucy.His big break after guest spots on Will & Grace and Friends, the actor and animal activist parlayed the five-season gig into parts on Zoo and Melissa & Joey and a secured place in the Hallmark Channel universe, appearing in holiday fare like 2015’s I’m Not Ready for Christmas, 2019’s A Kiss on Candy Cane Lane and last season’s Hope for the Holidays. 

    Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Instagram; X

    Nikolas & Lorenzo BrinoThough twins Sam Camden and David Camden were originally played by the Brino quadruplets, Nikolas took on the role of David and Lorenzo played Sam later on. Sadly, the latter died in a car accident in 2020 at age 21. He was driving in Yucaipa, Calif., and collided with a utility pole, according to USA Today.At the time, costar Beverley Mitchell wrote in an Instagram comment, “My heart is broken for his family! So many fun memories watching them grow up! Just devastating. RIP Zo! You were full of light and will not be forgotten!”

    Everett Collection; Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images

    Ashlee SimpsonBefore there was “Pieces of Me,” there was Cecilia Smith. Indeed, the younger sister of Jessica Simpson portrayed Simon Camden’s girlfriend during seasons seven and eight. Once the fourth eldest Camden went off to college, however, a love triangle for the ages developed after Cecilia began to hit it off with Tyler Hoechlin’s character Martin. For Simpson, her two-season arc on 7th Heaven was only the start of her time in the spotlight. After leaving the series in 2004, she released her debut album Autobiography and then entered the reality TV world with The Ashlee Simpson Show, which aired on MTV from 2004-2005. Since then, she’s released more music, had an ill-fated showing as the musical guest on SNL and became a mom to three, welcoming one child with ex-husband Pete Wentz and two with husband Evan Ross. She also won The Masked Singer in 2026.

    Everett Collection; Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images

    Tyler HoechlinHoechlin brought to life Martin Brewer, a local teen who gets introduced to the Camden family when he starts dating Simon’s ex-girlfriend Cecilia. Though their relationship isn’t destined to last, he eventually becomes close with Ruthie Camden, also turning to Annie and Eric for advice and parental guidance while his own father is stationed overseas with the military.Outside of his time starring on the last four seasons of 7th Heaven, Hoechlin got fans howling as Derek Hale on MTV’s Teen Wolf before becoming a bird—no, a plane—no, Super-Man on Supergirl and then Superman & Lois. Though he previously dated Brittany Snow in the mid 2010s, he’s otherwise kept much of his private life out of the spotlight.

    Everett Collection; Starbuck/AFF-USA/Shutterstock

    Haylie DuffAfter the Martin, Cecilia and Simon love triangle came yet another dramatic Martin storyline. This time, it was Haylie’s college student Sandy Jameson—best friends with Simon’s fiancée Rose—who threw a wrench into his plans when it’s revealed she is pregnant with 17-year-old Martin’s baby following a brief fling. Plus, matters are only further complicated when Sandy and Simon develop feelings for each other, causing the end of his engagement to Rose. Later, with her baby Aaron in tow, Sandy decides to become a minister.Offscreen, the older sister to Hilary Duff enjoyed roles in Napoleon Dynamite and Material Girls, plus projects with Lifetime and Hallmark and a stint as host of a cooking show. She’s mom to two daughters with ex-fiancé Matthew Rosenberg.

    Everett Collection; Presley Ann/Shutterstock

    Andrew KeeganBefore he played Joey Donner on 10 Things I Hate About You, Keegan portrayed Wilson West on 7th Heaven, boyfriend to Biel’s Mary. Her parents grow concerned about the relationship, however, when it’s revealed Wilson is dad to a young son named Billy. And though Wilson and Mary aren’t meant to be—especially when she kisses Ben Kinkirk—Wilson eventually bonds with and marries fellow teen parent Corey Conway, Mary’s basketball teammate.In addition to 7th Heaven and 10 Things I Hate About You, Keegan enjoyed roles in The Broken Hearts Club, Camp Nowhere, A Midsummer Night’s Rave and party of Five. He also briefly was the head of a group called Full Circle. (More on that here.)

    Everett Collection; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

    Rachel BlanchardAfter playing Roxanne Richardson on seasons seven and eight, Blanchard went on to star in You Me Her from 2016 to 2020. However, fans will best recognize her as mom Susannah on The Summer I Turned Pretty. Offscreen, she’s married to composer Jeremy Turner.

    Everett Collection; Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

    Jeremy LondonThe actor behind Chandler Hampton (who came aboard for seasons seven and eight) is also known for his roles on Party of Five and I’ll Fly Away. More recently, he’s appeared in horror films, with his recent credits including Amityville: Descendants of Darkness, Murder at Hollow Creek, Bone Face, Butchers Bluff and Fear Cabin: The Last Weekend of Summer.

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