Glee returns: Revival of the series officially announced
Disney+ and Hulu are behind the comeback of Ryan Murphy's hit TV series
Now it's official: The "Glee" comeback is a done deal! Disney+ and Hulu are behind the revival of Ryan Murphy's hit TV series. Beyond that, no further details have been announced. Neither the producers nor the cast have been revealed yet.
According to sources at The Hollywood Reporter, deals with the creative minds behind the revival are still being finalized. However, it is extremely likely that "Glee" co-creator Ryan Murphy will be back on board. As recently reported, Murphy had already written a script together with Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan. As for the cast, he also spoke to Entertainment Tonight. His comments regarding the original series' cast raise hopes that some of the stars from back then might also be on board for the reboot:
"I've been in touch with around ten of the original cast members. It's very sweet. They all had a lot of questions, but they all were very enthusiastic about the idea."
He added, however, that they hadn't read the script yet:
"Nobody's read it, so I don't know, we'll see. I vowed to myself that I wanted to write a couple of them to see what people think. Particularly the cast, cause we were very close when we were making it."
It remains to be seen whether the original cast members will actually return. At the very least, a comeback by Lea Michele would be anything but surprising, given her recent statements. When the former lead actress was asked about a possible reboot, she told E! News that the series holds a special place in her heart and that she would follow Murphy "wherever he goes."
What made the series Glee stand out
The original series centered on the glee club at the fictional William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio. The premise: After the music program's previous teacher is fired, Spanish teacher Will Schuester (played by Matthew Morrison) takes over. Schuester had been a member of the glee club himself as a student. And now he wants to lead the group to success – though this certainly comes with its share of challenges. "Glee" premiered in 2009. By 2015, the TV series had aired a total of 121 episodes across 6 seasons.
"Glee" stood out, among other things, for its numerous musical numbers. The series featured countless well-known pop songs, which were performed by the characters as cover versions in the respective episodes. One highlight right at the start of the series: the scene at the end of the first episode, when the cover of the 1981 hit "Don't Stop Believin'" by the rock band Journey played. It was an uplifting moment that made viewers want to keep watching. Will the newly announced revival of "Glee" be able to live up to that? We'll have to wait and see. That said, the music wasn't the only thing that set the series apart. "Glee" also dealt with the students' everyday problems, addressing topics such as their relationships, gender issues, and family.
The series was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan, who also served as writers and executive producers. The cast included Matthew Morrison, Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz, Heather Morris, Mike O'Malley, Naya Rivera, and Harry Shum Jr. Over the years, the cast members Cory Monteith, Mark Salling, and Naya Rivera have passed away.