Gilmore Girls star Milo Ventimiglia will join the cast of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season 4, reuniting him with Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino. The hit series Gilmore Girls premiered in 2000 and aired for seven seasons, garnering a devoted fan base during its acclaimed run. The much-beloved show became known for its witty, fast-paced dialogue and thoughtful exploration of the dynamic relationship between the titular Gilmore women. During this time, Ventimiglia played the bad boy Jess Mariano, appearing for the majority of seasons 2 and 3 before ultimately departing. While he was no longer a recurring character, he did make a few scattered guest appearances in later episodes before Gilmore Girls ended in 2007.
When Ventimiglia’s Jess entered the sleepy suburbs of the fictional Stars Hollow, he quickly became part of a love triangle featuring the protagonist Rory Gilmore. As the nephew of Luke Danes, the gruff owner of a popular diner, Jess positioned himself as the rebellious suitor vying for Rory’s attention. At this time, she struggled with whether or not to stay with Dean, her loyal boyfriend, or pursue something more with Jess. The will-they-or-won’t-they storyline incited a passionate response from fans and critics, who debated over which young man was Rory’s true love. The arrival of Gilmore Girls on Netflix in 2016 re-ignited these heated discussions with a whole new generation of viewers on social media. While Ventimiglia has earned praise for his current role as the family patriarch on the Emmy-nominated drama This Is Us, he remains widely known as the infamous Jess Mariano.
According to TVLine, Ventimiglia will play an unspecified character on season 4 of Sherman-Palladino’s Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, bringing him back to his Gilmore Girls roots. While his guest arc has been confirmed, the details of his role have not been shared. Previously, Sherman-Palladino has noted her interest in inviting Ventimiglia onto her Amazon show in some capacity.
Upon its debut in 2017, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel received widespread praise for its humorous and cleverly written take on a female comic trying to succeed in 1950s New York. Throughout its run, it has obtained numerous accolades, including multiple Emmy Awards for star Rachel Brosnahan. While fans have been clamoring for the new installment, the fourth season struggled with a delayed production due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the show began filming again in January with strict protocols in place. With this upcoming chapter, Ventimiglia will round out the returning cast, including Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Marin Hinkle, Tony Shalhoub, Kevin Pollak, Caroline Aaron, Stephanie Hsu, and Luke Kirby.
For fans of both Gilmore Girls and Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Ventimiglia’s casting will certainly spark a wave of nostalgia and excitement, particularly when it comes to witnessing how his character will inform Sherman-Palladino’s current series. The angry yet charming Jess Mariano was a misfit teen trying to survive the early 2000s, while this new figure will be a grown man in mid-century New York. Of course, regardless of these differences, Ventimiglia has more than enough experience honing the quick and clever delivery of lines written by Sherman-Palladino.
