Glee Reboot Ordered at Disney+ and Hulu, But No Cast Deals Are Signed
- The Scoop: Disney+ and Hulu have ordered a Glee revival, with creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan attached to develop the new series.
- Studio & Platform Muscle: 20th Television is tied to the project, giving the musical property a dual-platform streaming home across two Disney-owned services.
- Casting Reality: Murphy has spoken with roughly 10 original cast members who were “very enthusiastic,” but the greenlight announcement named no returning stars.
- Franchise Legacy: The original Fox series ran six seasons from 2009 to 2015 and launched the careers of Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Amber Riley and Darren Criss.
Disney+ and Hulu have ordered a Glee revival, with Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan returning to develop a new version of the high-school musical series.
The greenlight lands without a single signed cast deal, a deliberate first move that puts the creative trio at the center of the rollout rather than the ensemble.
Murphy’s Open Door: Ten Phone Calls, Zero Contracts
Murphy has confirmed he reached out to around 10 members of the original cast, describing their response as “very enthusiastic about the idea.” That is a temperature check, not a casting sheet.
Lea Michele has publicly signaled openness to returning, and Heather Morris has teased a Brittany Pierce comeback. Neither constitutes a studio deal, and the official announcement carried no talent names at all.
“For many, many people now in their 20s, they grew up on that show and it meant something to them. The music meant something. So, let’s kick it around and see what we get.”, Ryan Murphy, co-creator
That framing positions the revival as a generational handoff rather than a nostalgia replay, aimed squarely at viewers who were teenagers during the show’s original Fox run.
The creative question is whether a new ensemble carries the load or the revival leans on legacy faces. Murphy’s outreach suggests he is keeping both doors open while scripts take shape.
Dual-Platform Play: Why Disney Wants the Choir Back
Routing the revival across Disney+ and Hulu gives the property two subscriber funnels at once, a structure that suits a music-driven title built for repeat viewing and soundtrack discovery.
20th Television’s involvement keeps production inside the Disney fold, meaning the studio is financing a franchise it already owns rather than licensing someone else’s IP.
The original series ran six seasons from 2009 to 2015 and turned its cast into touring and recording commodities, a merchandising engine that streaming platforms rarely get to inherit outright.
No episode count, production window or premiere date has been set, leaving the calendar open while scripts and casting are locked. Track the rollout across our trade entertainment wire desk as details firm up.
The commercial bet is straightforward: a recognizable musical brand, two platforms splitting the marketing load, and a creator who can greenlight his own phone calls. The burn rate stays low until cameras roll, and Disney can hold the announcement cycle for a casting reveal that does the promotional work for free.