After more than a decade off the air, McKinley High School's glee club is set to reopen. "Glee," the musical series that became a hit and a cultural phenomenon in the early 2010s, has received a series order from Disney+ and Hulu, it was announced Wednesday. No details have been released about the plot, filming schedule or premiere date, and it remains unclear which, if any, of the original cast members will reprise their roles.
The news comes just weeks after Ryan Murphy, who created the series with Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, revealed that the trio had completed a script for a reboot. In a September interview with Entertainment Tonight, Murphy said he had already spoken with about 10 members of the original cast, who had plenty of questions but expressed enthusiasm about the idea. However, according to reports, not all the actors have read the script, and the names of those who might participate in the new series have yet to be disclosed.
"Glee" premiered on Fox in 2009 and followed the show choir at McKinley High School in the fictional town of Lima, Ohio. Its students navigated school life, relationships and social issues, often through performances of popular songs. Blending comedy, drama and musical numbers, the series ran for six seasons until 2015 and turned cast members including Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Darren Criss, Amber Riley, Jane Lynch and Kevin McHale into household names.
Over the course of its run, the show earned 32 Emmy nominations and won six awards. Since its conclusion, it has continued to attract viewers on streaming platforms. In recent months, Murphy suggested that a younger generation rediscovering the series was one reason to consider returning to its world. Now, with a new series officially ordered, the biggest question is whether the comeback will feature familiar characters or open the doors of the glee club to a new generation of students.
The legacy of "Glee" has also been overshadowed by a series of off-screen tragedies and scandals. In 2013, Cory Monteith, who played Finn Hudson and was one of the show's stars, died at 31 from an overdose of heroin and alcohol. In 2018, Mark Salling, who played Puck, died by suicide, months after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material. In 2020, Naya Rivera, who played Santana Lopez, drowned in a California lake after managing to save her 4-year-old son, who was with her on a boat.
Cory Monteith, who played Finn Hudson, died at 31 from an overdose of heroin and alcohol
(Photo: Reuters)
The series and its cast were also linked to behind-the-scenes disputes. In 2020, actress Samantha Marie Ware accused Lea Michele of abusive behavior and racist remarks on set. Michele issued an apology, but other cast members also came forward with allegations about her conduct.
The term "Glee curse" became associated with the show following the string of incidents. In 2023, the documentary series "The Price of Glee" examined the tragedies and tensions surrounding the production, but drew criticism from several cast members who objected to how the events were portrayed.