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 Other original cast members including John Goodman, Laurie
Metcalf and Sara Gilbert will appear in the show, which has a
working title of "The Conners," ABC said in a statement.
ABC, owned by Walt Disney Co <DIS.N>, canceled "Roseanne" in May
after Barr sparked widespread anger with a tweet comparing black
former Obama administration adviser Valerie Jarrett to an ape.
Barr wrote in a now-deleted message that if the Islamist
political movement "muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had
a baby = vj." Barr later apologized for making a bad joke.
ABC said Barr will have no financial or creative involvement in
the spinoff.
The new series will air this autumn, ABC said, and will feature
characters Dan, Jackie, Darlene, Becky and D.J.
The network did not explain what will happen to Barr's
character.
"After a sudden turn of events, the Conners are forced to face
the daily struggles of life in Lanford in a way they never have
before," the ABC statement said, referring to the fictional town
of Lanford, Illinois.
The family will grapple with "parenthood, dating, an unexpected
pregnancy, financial pressures, aging and in-laws in
working-class America," the statement added.
In a separate statement, Barr said she agreed to be removed from
the show to save 200 cast and crew jobs.
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"I regret the circumstances that have caused me to be removed from
Roseanne," Barr said. "I wish the best for everyone involved."
The original "Roseanne" ran from 1988 to 1997, featuring a
blue-collar family with overweight parents struggling to get by. It
was praised for its realistic portrayal of working-class life.
The revival was ABC's biggest hit of the 2017-2018 season, drawing
more than 18 million viewers on average, according to Nielsen.
President Donald Trump had cited its huge viewership as evidence his
supporters, who include Barr, want shows that speak to their
concerns. He also suggested media bias played a role in the show's
cancellation.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the returning cast members said:
"We have received a tremendous amount of support from fans of our
show, and it's clear that these characters not only have a place in
our hearts, but in the hearts and homes of our audience."
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Leslie Adler and Lisa
Shumaker)
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