Streaming platforms Disney+ and Hulu have handed a formal series order to a reboot of the musical dramedy Glee, bringing the cultural phenomenon back to television more than a decade after its original run concluded on Fox.
Disney+ and Hulu announced a formal series order for a revival produced by 20th Television. The musical dramedy that defined an era of broadcast television is officially returning, moving the franchise forward after months of speculation and development while reuniting core creative forces behind the original McKinley High stories.
Creators Finalize Script After Streaming Resurgence
Ryan Murphy confirmed by late September that he had finalized a script alongside fellow original creators Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan. The revival comes together after co-creator Ryan Murphy noted an organic resurgence of the series among younger viewers, pointing out in July while promoting his work that the show’s music and themes were finding a fresh audience on streaming platforms. The original series ran for six seasons, spanning 121 episodes and featuring more than 729 musical performances on Fox between 2009 and 2015.
Currently gleeking out! pic.twitter.com/ckV50OCQ5s
That show is interesting because it’s come back around. So many young people now watch it. For many, many people now in their 20s, they grew up on that show and it meant something to them. The music meant something. So, let’s kick it around and see what we get.
Ryan Murphy, Co-Creator
Cast Members Question Revival While Creators Reach Out
Disney and 20th Television have not confirmed any formal casting attachments or plot details. Murphy revealed that he has already reached out to several familiar faces from the original ensemble, however.
The original ensemble featured Lea Michele as Rachel Berry, Matthew Morrison as Spanish teacher Will Schuester, Jane Lynch as cheer coach Sue Sylvester, Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel, Amber Riley as Mercedes Jones, and Darren Criss as Blaine Anderson. The expansive roster also included Cory Monteith as Finn Hudson, Dianna Agron, Naya Rivera as Santana Lopez, Heather Morris, Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, Harry Shum Jr., Chord Overstreet, Mark Salling as Noah Puckerman, Jayma Mays, Dot-Marie Jones, Alex Newell, Jacob Artist, Becca Tobin, Blake Jenner, and Melissa Benoist across its multiple seasons. Any return to the franchise also intersects with the complicated history of the original production and the loss of prominent cast members. Cory Monteith died in 2013 at age 31 during the show’s broadcast run, Mark Salling died in 2018, and Naya Rivera died in 2020 at age 33.
I’ve been in touch with around 10 of the original cast members. It’s very sweet, and they all had a lot of questions, but they all were very enthusiastic about the idea.
Ryan Murphy, Co-Creator
Lea Michele stated that she would follow the creator anywhere, expressing her enduring affection for the project. Conversely, Chris Colfer voiced a more hesitant stance regarding a potential return.
It was a really tough show to do, and it would be really hard to do it now that Naya [Rivera] is gone. But I do know that Glee fans would probably come after me with pitchforks and jazz hands if I said no.
Chris Colfer, Actor who played Kurt Hummel
Soundtracks Maintain Popularity Across Digital Platforms
According to Disney, the show’s soundtrack catalog continues to attract approximately four million monthly listeners on Spotify more than a decade after its finale, propelled by iconic covers of songs such as Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’,
Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” Queen’s Somebody to Love,
Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide,” and River Deep, Mountain High.
All six seasons have streamed on Disney+ and Hulu since June 2022, helping the show maintain cultural visibility.
As production teams finalize deals for the creative crew, no official premiere date has been announced for the upcoming series order. The original series ran for six seasons, spanning 121 episodes and featuring more than 729 musical performances on Fox between 2009 and 2015.
More on Disney+
Don't stop believin' in a 'Glee' reboot! Ryan Murphy confirms he wrote a new script, and the original cast is "enthusiastic" about returning. pic.twitter.com/SVk9ng2JG4