All the TV shows being rebooted for 2021: from 'True Blood' to 'Clueless'

Here are the television shows and films getting makeovers and new casts in the New Year

'Gossip Girl', the tale of rich, privileged teens running amok on the Upper East Side, is being rebooted for 2021 with an all-new cast. IMDb

It's well-known that during times of trouble, such as a global pandemic, nostalgia becomes a comfortable place to dwell, whether that's finding comfort in the foods you used to eat as a child or setting your Spotify playlist to '90s tunes. And Hollywood has welcomed the collective global nostalgia trip we're all currently on with open arms.

Following in the footsteps of Saved By The Bell, which was successfully rebooted under the premise that Zack Morris became the governor of California, and in a bid to make Bayside High more inclusive introduces a new group of working class students to the school who clash with the rich kids, it seems that every network and streamer is currently on a major reboot kick.

Here are some of the new versions of old favourites coming to the small screen in 2021 …

'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'

A fan-made film inspired Will Smith to put together the recent 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' reunion and get involved with a prequel. IMDb

Last year, a fan-made film written and directed by Morgan Cooper reimagined a prequel to the lighthearted series about Will and the Banks family as a gritty drama, in the vein of the types of films made by Black Panther director Ryan Coogler. The four-minute-long trailer, called Bel-Air, caught the attention of Will Smith who also found himself wondering what led the Fresh Prince to Hollywood in the first place.

The recent reunion, during which Smith sat down with his co-star Janet Hubert, who played Aunt Viv for three seasons of the show, saw them hash out a two-decade long feud, and set the scene for a reboot. And based on the work of Cooper, who co-wrote the show, it will air on Peacock next year.

'Walker'

'Supernatural' star, Jared Padalecki is stepping into Chuck Norris's shoes in the 'Walker, Texas Ranger' reboot. AFP

After 15 years of playing Sam Winchester in the long-running fan favourite Supernatural, Jared Padalecki takes over the mantle of Walker the Texas Ranger, who was last seen on screen in series form back in 2001.

Last played by Chuck Norris, the original series ran for 196 episodes, from 1993 to 2001, and spawned a number of made-for-TV films. The reboot follows Padalecki’s widowed Cordell Walker as he moves back to Austin, Texas, to try and reconnect with his children and get to the bottom of his wife’s death. The pilot is set to air on January 21, 2021.

'Gossip Girl'

'Gossip Girl' is being rebooted eight years after the original series ended. IMDb

The lives and loves of the impossibly good-looking, designer-clad teens at Constance Billard School for Girls and St Jude's School for Boys held fans in thrall for five years between 2007 and 2012. Launching the careers of Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley and Ed Westwick, the show, which aired on The CW, is being rebooted by HBO Max.

Set eight years after the original show ended, it will follow a new, and more diverse, bunch of rich kids in their Upper East Side playground. Filming was due to begin in March this year, but the release date has been pushed back to 2021.

'True Blood'

True Blood's tale of vampires living openly alongside humans made Alexander Skarsgard a star, and will be rebooted with a new cast. Courtesy HBO

The show that made Alexander Skarsgard a star is currently being rebooted at HBO. Following the lives of vampires who live alongside humans in the deep American south, the show was based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, and ran for seven seasons between 2008 and 2014.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who oversaw Riverdale's transition from comic book to small screen, is set to co-write the script, while original series creator and showrunner Alan Ball returns to executive produce.

The show starred Anna Paquin as waitress Sookie Stackhouse, as well as Alexander Skarsgard, Joe Manganiello, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten and Nelsan Ellis.

'iCarly'

Nickelodeon's ratings-busting show 'iCarly' is set to return next year, with cameos from the original cast members. Photo by Nickelodeon Network / Schneider's Bakery / Kobal / Shutterstock

The popular Nickelodeon show is set to be revived, with a series ordered at Paramount+. Fans of the original series will be thrilled to learn that stars Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor and Nathan Kress are all set to return in the reboot. The original series ran for six seasons and 97 episodes between 2007 and 2012, and broke ratings records for Nickelodeon.

'Clueless'

Dionne and Cher, played by Stacey Dash and Alicia Silverstone, starred in the original 'Clueless', with the snappy dialogue and Jane Austen-inspired storyline set to get a 2021 makeover. Courtesy Paramount Pictures

Still famously quotable a full 25 years after its 1995 release, Clueless is set to be rebooted as a series. Amy Heckerling's era-defining update of Jane Austen's Emma starred Alicia Silverstone as high schooler Cher, who navigated her teenage years while meddling in the love lives of everyone around her.

The show will play on NBC's streaming service, Peacock, and is described by Deadline as a "baby pink … tiny sunglasses-wearing, oat milk latte and Adderall-fuelled look at what happens when the high school queen bee Cher disappears and her lifelong number two Dionne steps into Cher's vacant Air Jordans".

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