Tim Allen says a potential Home Improvement reboot remains “stuck” due to personal issues among the actors who played his on-screen sons on the classic 1991-1999 ABC sitcom. Speaking to Us Weekly in June 2026, Allen explained that discussions about reviving the show have stalled because of what he called “personality problems” with his former co-stars.
“They keep talking about how it could move forward, but they get stuck [because] there are some personality problems right now with the boys,” Allen told the outlet. “They’ve got their own issues. I always thought it would be cool if it was a story about them. That’s a little challenging right now, to put it mildly.”
One of those co-stars is Zachery Ty Bryan, who played Brad Taylor, the oldest of Tim’s three sons on the show. Bryan has faced multiple arrests in recent years, including a second-degree domestic violence charge in January 2025 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He is currently serving 16 months in a California prison following probation violations, with an additional 19-month sentence pending in Oregon, according to court records.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas, who portrayed middle son Randy, has largely stepped away from acting since Home Improvement ended. In 2024, Patricia Richardson—who played Tim’s wife Jill on the series—noted that Thomas “hasn’t acted since he left the show” and is focused on directing and writing instead. Richardson herself has stated she would not want to participate in a reboot.
Taran Noah Smith, who played youngest son Mark, also has not appeared on screen since the show’s 1999 finale. Of the three actors who portrayed Tim’s sons, two have left the entertainment industry and one faces ongoing legal challenges, making a reunion project logistically and personally difficult.
Allen has occasionally pitched reboot ideas over the years. In 2023, he told The Messenger he’d discussed a concept where the show would center on the Taylor children as adults with their own families, potentially titled “Home Re-Improvement.” However, without the participation of his former co-stars, those plans have remained in limbo. Some of the Home Improvement cast did reunite with Allen on Season 2 of ABC’s Shifting Gears in 2025, but a full reboot of the original series appears unlikely in the near term.
Sources
- Deadline — Tim Allen’s statement about the reboot being stuck, details on cast members’ current situations
- Us Weekly — Tim Allen’s direct quotes about personality problems and cast issues
- People.com — Zachery Ty Bryan’s arrest records and sentencing information
- The Hollywood Reporter — Additional context on cast challenges and reboot status
