THE CLASSIC AMERICAN cartoon series The Flintstones is to be remade by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.

The series, which told the story of the Fred Flintsone, Barney Rubble and their respective families, was set during the prehistoric age and ran in the US on ABC between 1960 and 1966.

The show will be broadcast on the Fox Entertainment network.

MacFarlane said in the official press statement that he had been a fan of the Flintstones since he was a young child:

The very first cartoon character I drew at age two was Fred Flintstone, so it’s appropriate that events have come full circle, allowing me to produce the newest incarnation of this great franchise. Plus, I think America is finally ready for an animated sitcom about a fat, stupid guy with a wife who’s too good for him.

The new series will see an updated version of the show, with the introduction of new technology.

Production will begin this autumn in time for a 2013 premiere.

The series will be jointly produced by 20th Television and Warner Bros Television, with MacFarlane as one of the three producers.

Although the Flintstones was tame, family-friendly fare, MacFarlane is responsible for the dark adult animated comedy Family Guy.