Glee is coming back as Disney+ and Hulu order a reboot

Disney+ and Hulu have ordered a new version of Glee, the musical series about a high school show choir that aired on Fox from 2009 to 2015, The Hollywood Reporter reported. 20th Television, the studio that made the original, is also producing the revival.

So far, the order is mostly a promise. Disney's Wednesday press release on the series named no cast members and no producers, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and fans are left with plenty of open questions.

Key facts

• The order: Disney+ and Hulu picked up a Glee revival from 20th Television, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
• The script: Ryan Murphy said he had just finished writing a script for the reboot, Deadline reported.
• The cast: No casting news came with the series order, according to Deadline.
• The timing: ABC News reported that no official release date has been shared.
• The old episodes: All 121 episodes of the original show are on Hulu, ABC News reported.

Background

The original Glee took place at William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio, and tracked the New Directions glee club as it competed on the show choir circuit, with a musical number in every episode, Deadline reported. It ran for six seasons on Fox, and its last episode aired on March 20, 2015, according to Variety.

Murphy created the series with Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk, and directing the pilot earned him his first Emmy, according to Deadline. In all, Glee won six Emmys, including best supporting actress in a comedy series for Jane Lynch in 2010, The Hollywood Reporter reported. It also took the GLAAD Media Award for outstanding comedy series in both 2010 and 2011, according to ABC News.

The show still has a large audience years later. Disney said the original draws around 4 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Deadline reported.

Lea Michele and Rachel Berry

Lea Michele played Rachel Berry in all six seasons, and the 2015 finale ends with Rachel winning a Tony Award, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Variety reported that her work on the show earned her an Emmy nomination and nominations for two Golden Globes.

Her stage career runs on both sides of the series. Before Glee, she appeared on Broadway in Les Miserables, Ragtime, Fiddler on the Roof and Spring Awakening, according to Variety. More recently, she starred in a Broadway revival of Chess and played in Funny Girl in 2022-23, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

Disney has not announced any cast, and Michele's return has not been confirmed. Representatives for Disney and Murphy declined to comment, and Michele's representatives did not reply, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Before the reboot became official, Michele told E! News that she loves both Glee and Murphy, saying, "I will follow Ryan wherever he goes.", Variety reported.

What it means for you

For longtime fans, the order means Glee is officially in the works again. Murphy said that viewers who are now in their 20s grew up with the show and that it mattered to them, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

Fans hoping for a full reunion should keep expectations in check. Last month, Murphy said he had been in contact with about 10 original cast members, Deadline reported. He said of those actors, "they all were very enthusiastic about the idea."

It is also unclear who will run the show. Murphy, Falchuk and Brennan were left out of Disney's press release, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

Practical steps

• Catch up now: The original series is streaming on Hulu, so fans can rewatch it while they wait.
• Know the size of the binge: Hulu has all 121 original episodes, according to ABC News.
• Watch official channels: The BBC reported that Disney and Hulu shared the news through the show's social media team, so future updates may come the same way.

What happens next

Apart from the series order and the 20th Television role, there are almost no details about the new show, The Hollywood Reporter reported. The premiere date and number of episodes have not been announced. It is also not yet known whether the show will continue the old story or start fresh with a new cast.

Even the script is untested. Murphy told the BBC that nobody has read it yet, so how it lands remains to be seen.

FAQ

Who is making the new Glee? 20th Television, which produced the original, is behind the reboot for Disney+ and Hulu.

Where can I watch the original Glee? The original series streams on Hulu.

Has the cast been announced? No. No casting was announced with the series order, Deadline reported.

When will it premiere? No official release date has been shared, ABC News reported.