Glee star Kevin McHale weighs in on whether the series could be rebooted. In an era where much of Hollywood, across film and television, depends on revisiting and reviving familiar projects, Glee is mentioned frequently as a prime candidate to be updated. When it launched on Fox in 2009, the musical dramedy sent its young cast into superstardom and earned legions of devoted fans. Even though the finale aired over seven years ago, the show’s influence and impact are still plainly visible across social media and in the types of shows and stories that have followed in its aftermath.
That sort of legacy is why Fox Entertainment President Michael Thron included Glee among the shows that he would love to revive when the topic came up in 2021. Despite the fact that many of the show’s viewers are happy to leave the story as is, there is a sizable portion of the audience that wonders whether some sort of follow-up project could be possible in the future.
Kevin McHale, who portrayed Artie Abrams, told E! News that he doesn’t think a Glee revival is likely. The actor, who recently appeared in American Horror Stories, an anthology from two of Glee‘s co-creators, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, did indicate that anything would be possible if Murphy was interested. McHale’s quote is included below.
I don’t know if that would ever happen as a TV show or a reboot-type thing. I don’t think that would ever happen. Well, you know, until Ryan Murphy says so.
Why A Glee Reboot Shouldn’t Happen
In terms of whether Murphy would be interested in bringing back Glee, the mega-producer has his hands full. He’s continually creating drama series for Netflix, and he’s involved in the ever-expanding American Story franchise. But separate from the question of its likelihood, there’s a strong argument to be made that Glee shouldn’t be rebooted. One reason, as explained by Jane Lynch, who played Sue Sylvester, is how the show leaned into offensiveness for punchlines, and that sort of humor is more closely scrutinized today.
Taking aside that one aspect, the dramedy is celebrated today despite its flaws. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Disney+ is clearly influenced by Glee, even as it aims to be kinder and gentler. Other shows, like The Girl From Plainville, use Glee as a starting point for major story developments. It has been cemented as a seminal series, warts, controversies, and all. Too often with reboots and revivals, executives hope that it’s enough to bring back an old hit without fully appreciating the circumstances and timing that aided its success. Glee was, if nothing else, very much a reflection of its time.
