Ryan Murphy has officially taken the biggest step yet towards bringing Glee back, revealing that he has finished writing a script for a potential reboot more than a decade after the original musical drama ended.
The creator confirmed the development during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, saying he had completed the script just hours earlier. Murphy co-wrote the new material with original Glee co-creators Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, who also worked with him on the first two seasons of the Fox series.
A Finished Script
'Well, funny you ask, 'cause I just finished the script an hour ago,' Murphy said.
While the news marks a significant development, it does not mean a Glee reboot has officially been commissioned. Murphy stressed that 'nobody's read' the script yet and said he wanted to write more material before seeing how the original cast and others respond.
The project could nevertheless represent a new generation for the franchise. Murphy has previously suggested that younger viewers discovering Glee through streaming have made him reconsider the possibility of revisiting the series.
The New Incarnation
'That show is interesting because it's come back around. So many young people now watch it,' he told People in July. Murphy added that his nostalgia for the series had him considering whether audiences might want 'a new incarnation' in some form.
Exactly what that incarnation would look like remains unclear. Murphy has not announced the new characters, casting, setting or whether the story would centre on a completely new group of students. Consequently, reports about a new generation of female leads should be treated as an indication of the direction being discussed rather than confirmed casting news.
There is also a chance that some familiar faces could return. Murphy revealed that he has spoken with around 10 members of the original cast, saying they had asked questions but were 'very enthusiastic' about the idea. However, no actor has officially been confirmed for the reboot.
Will Lea Michele Return?
Lea Michele, who played ambitious singer Rachel Berry throughout all six seasons, recently said she would be open to returning. Speaking to E! News, Michele said she would 'follow Ryan wherever he goes', although that does not constitute confirmation that Rachel will appear in the proposed project.
The original Glee ran from 2009 to 2015, following members of the New Directions glee club at fictional William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio. Its ensemble included Michele, Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera, Dianna Agron, Amber Riley, Chris Colfer, Darren Criss, Heather Morris and Kevin McHale, alongside Jane Lynch as cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester. The series became a major television and music phenomenon, while its storylines addressed sexuality, bullying, race, disability, relationships and teenage identity.
A reboot would face the challenge of introducing Glee to viewers who were not around when the original premiered while retaining enough of its identity for longtime fans. But for now, Murphy's completed script is the clearest sign yet that the Glee universe could return. Until the script is read, a cast is announced, and a network or streaming service orders the project, the comeback remains firmly in development rather than officially greenlit.
