From social media and apps that track your location, the Gossip Girl reboot is facing the challenges of a new generation while still looking fabulous.
Fans of the original Gossip Girl series were stunned to discover a reboot was in the works. Although the original heartthrobs like Nate Archibald and Blair Waldorf won’t be the stars of the show, fans are still on edge waiting for the new series. With a long history of elite fashion and drama, the reboot has high expectations to live up to.
Filming began towards the end of 2020. Not long afterwards fans were teased with a picture of the new cast sitting on the iconic Met Gala Steps. The iconic steps were the lunchtime hang out spot, where hierarchy influenced your spot.
The Gossip Girl reboot is set four years after the flash-forward in the original’s finale, featuring scenes of Dan and Serena’s wedding, along with Chuck and Blair’s son. Rather than a remake of the original, the reboot is a continuation of the same universe. It follows eight years after the Gossip Girl website went dark.
The original series was an abundance of elegant ball gowns, riches an ordinary person could never imagine and thrilling drama. However, an underlying issue of the show was a lack of representation among cast members, with the main characters typically being heterosexual and Caucasian. There were few mentions of homosexuality. Also, the few people of colour in the show were typically shrouded in a negative light. Business man, Russell Thorpe, was scheming. And Vanessa Abrams, who made a regular appearance was portrayed as irritating.
Executive Producer, Joshua Safran admitted to Vulture,
“There was not a lot of representation the first time around on the show.”
However, Safran has confirmed the outstanding amount of queer content, while majority of the protagonists are of colour,
“It is every much dealing with the way the world looks now, where wealth and privilege come from, and how you handle that.”
An overview of the characters and a mysterious one-word description was released on the @gossipgirl Instagram page.
Whitney Peak plays Zoya Lott, characterised by ‘perspective’, who seems to be portraying the outsider in a recent image. Transgender actress and model Zion Moreno playes Luna La, characterised by ‘style.’ Savannah Smith plays her first lead role as Monet De Hann, characterised by ‘power.’ Meanwhile, Scottish actor Thomas Doherty takes a break from the Disney’s The Descendants franchise to play Max Wolfe, characterised by ‘freedom.’
Will the originals be making an appearance?
Kristen Bell has confirmed her return to the reboot as the voice of Gossip Girl. Although the original characters will be mentioned throughout the reboot, it is unknown if they will make an appearance.
Blake Lively who played It Girl, Serena Van der Woodsen, confirmed with E! News that she isn’t involved in the reboot. Meanwhile, Leighton Meester who played Blair Waldorf has stated while she is open to watching the show, she isn’t set to appear.
In the series finale flash-forward, Nate Archibald finally achieved a successful career but no love interest in sight. Original fans would love to see our favourite blue eyed boy back on the screens, with even actor Chace Crawford saying he would like his character to have a family. So far Crawford won’t be coming back but he has told Entertainment Weekly that he is open to appearing on the reboot.
The cast and crew of the Gossip Girl reboot have been very secretive to protect the series plotline. After six seasons and thousands of dedicated fans, living up to the original will be a difficult task. However with an inclusive cast telling the story of Manhattans elite, the reboot is heading in the right direction.
The Gossip Girl reboot is set to release this year. However HBO is yet to confirm a date.
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