‘Duck Dynasty’ Revived at A&E

A&E is rebooting — rebilling? — one of its most popular series from the 2010s with a new iteration of Duck Dynasty.

The new show, titled Duck Dynasty: The Revival, will once again follow the Robertson family as Willie and Korie Robertson focus on plotting the future for the family’s Duck Commander business and watch their own children deal with the challenges of adulthood. A&E has ordered two 10-episode seasons of the show, the first of which is set to premiere in the summer.

The revival of Duck Dynasty will debut some eight years after the original series aired its last episode in March 2017 after 11 seasons in five years. The show was A&E’s — and all of cable TV’s — biggest unscripted series in its heyday, hitting a high of 11.8 million viewers for the season four premiere in August 2013 (which was part of a peak time for cable in the pre-streaming years).

“The Robertsons earned a seat in homes across the country with their unique brand of downhome practicality, southern charm and relatable humor,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, executive vp and head of programming for A&E and Lifetime.  “Duck Dynasty played a huge part of the success of A&E for many years, and we look forward to reuniting with the Robertsons on the revival.”

Willie and Korie Robertson said in a statement, “Going back on A&E feels a little like going back home. We’re thankful for all who have followed along as our family has grown and expanded and can’t wait to get cameras rolling again on all our new adventures, or perhaps misadventures.”

Duck Dynasty had its share of controversy, including when Phil Robertson, the family’s patriarch and Willie’s father, was briefly suspended from the show following a GQ interview in which he made several anti-gay remarks. Conservative viewers, politicians and pundits rallied support for him, and A&E lifted the suspension soon after (before any additional filming on the show happened), citing the family’s stated remorse over Phil’s “coarse language.”

Phil Robertson is not listed among the family members A&E noted will take part in Duck Dynasty: The Revival. Along with Willie and Korie, Willie’s mother Kay, Uncle Si and Willie and Korie’s kids John Luke, Sadie, Will, Bella and Rebecca are set to be on camera.

The original series streams on several platforms, among them A&E’s website, Prime Video and Pluto TV. Willie’s brothers Jase and Jep star in Duck Family Treasure, which streams on Fox Nation.

Duck Dynasty: The Revival comes from Wheelhouse Entertainment’s Spoke Studios and the Robertsons’ Tread Lively Productions. Brent Montgomery, Jeff Conroy, Courtney White, Will Nothacker and Gardner Reed executive produce for Spoke Studios along with Korie Robertson, Willie Robertson, John Luke Robertson and Zach Dasher for Tread Lively and A&E’s Bryant, Sean Gottlieb and Jonathan Partridge.

The Robertson family and Tread Lively are represented by Gersh and Skrzyniarz & Mallean.