'Glee' Officially Announces the Reboot Nobody Asked For

Oct 22, 2026 - 01:03

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'Glee' Officially Announces the Reboot Nobody Asked For

Published Oct 21, 2026, 4:56 PM EDT

Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts!
On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK.
In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.

To all the Gleeks out there who never stopped believing more Glee could come one day, your wish has officially come true! After 11 years, Glee will return, as Disney+ and Hulu have ordered a reboot series. Though no official storyline or casting has been announced, the team has completed a script, and Ryan Murphy has floated the idea to many of the original stars. Created by Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan, the musical dramedy followed the members of New Directions through the trials and tribulations of high school. Known for its fan-favorite covers and its passion for tackling hot-button topics and themes, Glee celebrated a generation.

More than a decade later, a Glee reboot feels more like a peculiar puzzle than a desired product. As much as Glee fans are overjoyed at the prospect of seeing their favorite characters return, too much has changed since it ran for a reboot to resonate the way the creators may hope. Between the alleged "Glee curse," the impact of the documentary The Price of Glee, and where the stars are in their careers, a Glee reboot right now isn't what we asked for.

A 'Glee' Reboot Risks Becoming Hokey and Exploitative of Past Tragedy

Naya Rivera as Santana and Kevin McHale as Artie singing Valerie in Glee

To preface, I was a big Glee fan. I was there from the very first episode when a magical spark ignited as New Directions proudly sang "Don't Stop Believing." I tried to believe in the bigger picture when episodes veered into hot-button incidents and themes just because they could. But the truth is, Glee's six-season run was very much a product of its time. Glee worked because of when it came out and who was in that special ensemble. While the show can certainly address the loss of characters in the Glee universe, reviving it after the deaths of Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera, and Mark Salling (who also pled guilty to possession of child pornography), would be more than just an elephant in the room. Chris Colfer, who played Kurt Hummel,previously told Bustle about the complications of the potential reboot, notably sayingit would be "really hard to do" without Rivera. It's hard to imagine that the show will honor Rivera and her character while likely pretending Salling's Puck never existed. Sure, Murphy is a narrative genius; there's no doubt he's thought this through, but like many of his big swings, not everyone will like the decision.

Glee was an incredibly important show because it gave the outsiders a place to feel at home. The characters endured slushies in the face because they weren't seen as cool kids. Then, when the jocks and cheerleaders became a part of that intimate found family, Glee helped viewers understand that, despite antiquated stereotypes, anyone can come together as a team. From a historical perspective, Glee's run predated marriage equality in the United States. Much has changed since then as the LGBTQ+ community has become more "mainstream."

As with many young adult television shows since, stories now welcome the idea of being an outsider as a queer person. That core element would be drastically different in the reboot. After casting some RuPaul's Drag Race stars for the upcoming season of All's Fair, it's a surefire bet you'll see the same treatment on the reboot. But would Glee have the same impact as it did during its original run? Back then, it would have been profound and groundbreaking. Now, it's hardly headline news. Needless to say, Glee must acknowledge how times have changed and not try to force the past on the present.

'Glee' Has a Back Catalog of Music to Pull From

As some Gleeks have already jokingly quipped on social media about how their Spotify Wrapped will be topped with Glee covers, Murphy and company have a wealth of music to pull from since the show concluded in 2015. Through the good times and bad, the show's core was a celebration of music. For this reboot to have any chance of success, the right music selection will be crucial.

Yes, the inevitable Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan covers will be in an entire Hamilton episode, but including the classics is key. They can't just pigeonhole songs because they missed an 11-year window of modern music. Glee had an uncanny ability to teach younger audiences about music. Having full episodes revolving around Fleetwood Mac and The Beatles became a generational bridge for the audience.

There's no doubt we'll tune in for the joy of nostalgia or maybe just for Sue Sylvester's (Jane Lynch) biting commentary if she makes her return, but the reboot's success will depend on where the story goes. We watched the characters go to college in New York, balancing a new class with a new direction in Ohio, but that's also partially why the show fizzled. So, are we ready to see Lea Michele's Rachel Berry be a stage mom? Of course! As long as the story warrants it, then the enthusiasm is there. Glee's success will come down to its execution, and it's going to take a deft hand that perhaps Murphy doesn't possess. Time will tell if the series will be a hit or a disappointing rehash of what we already know.

Glee is available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.