Disney+ and Hulu have ordered a Glee reboot more than 11 years after the Fox musical drama ended. Original co-creator Ryan Murphy says a script is written and several former cast members have been contacted. Lea Michele has also been linked to the project, but the lineup and release date remain unsettled.
Key Takeaways
- Disney+ and Hulu announced a series order on October 21, 2026, with 20th Television producing
- Ryan Murphy completed a script with Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan and contacted approximately 10 original cast members
- Lea Michele is reportedly in talks to reprise Rachel Berry, although Disney has not officially announced her casting
- No premiere date, episode count or storyline has been disclosed
The Glee reboot received a series order on October 21, 2026, confirming that the musical comedy will return through Disney+ and Hulu. The announcement follows weeks of public comments from Ryan Murphy about new scripts and discussions with performers from the original show.
The streaming services have not disclosed the story, episode count or premiere schedule. That leaves an important distinction between the confirmed series order and separate reports about who could appear. The most specific casting news so far concerns Lea Michele, who played Rachel Berry during all six seasons.
Glee Reboot Gets Disney+ and Hulu Series Order
Disney’s announcement identifies 20th Television as the studio behind the new Glee production. The same studio produced the original Fox series, which premiered in September 2009 and concluded in March 2015.
The order marks a concrete development after earlier comments about a possible return. Disney+ and Hulu have committed to a new series, rather than merely confirming that producers are considering an idea. However, neither service has announced when cameras will begin rolling or how many episodes will be made.
A brief announcement posted through the show’s social media accounts confirmed its return without providing a trailer, character details or a synopsis. No official cast list accompanied the announcement. For now, the label “reboot” describes the project’s return, not a confirmed decision to replace the original characters with a new group.
The distinction matters because revivals can take different forms. Disney’s separate Aquamarine television pilot brings Emma Roberts back to a character from the 2006 film but centers a new teenage protagonist. That project received a pilot order, while Glee has been given a series order.
The original Glee followed the New Directions show choir at William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio. Music performances were built into storylines about the students and their relationships, with songs drawn from pop, theater and other established catalogs. Disney has not indicated whether the new program will use the same school, narrative format or musical arrangements.
Ryan Murphy and the Original Creators Have Written a Script
Murphy disclosed the writing development on September 23 during a New York event connected to American Horror Story. He said he had written material with Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, the two co-creators who developed Glee with him.
“We have a script,” Murphy told Entertainment Tonight. He also said, “I’ve been in touch with around 10 of the original cast members.” That statement established the scale of his outreach, but it did not confirm that those performers had signed agreements.
Murphy said the actors had questions and were enthusiastic about the proposal. He also indicated they had not yet read the script when he spoke in September. Their reactions therefore reflected early conversations rather than responses to completed scripts or an announced filming plan.
Earlier, in July, Murphy had publicly discussed his interest in revisiting Glee after noticing that younger viewers were watching the original series. His comments described a possible new version rather than an approved production. The October order is the subsequent development that formally moves the idea into Disney’s streaming lineup.
The original creative partnership is relevant because Murphy, Falchuk and Brennan established the show’s mix of scripted scenes and musical performances. Their completed writing work provides a connection to that format, although no details of the new scripts have been published. Disney has not announced which songs, settings or characters those scripts contain.
Lea Michele Is Reportedly in Talks as Cast Status Remains Open
Lea Michele is the original performer most directly linked to the new project. Variety reported on October 21 that sources expected her to reprise Rachel Berry. TheWrap separately described Michele as being in talks to return, while representatives for Disney and Michele declined to comment.
Those reports do not amount to an official casting announcement. Michele previously expressed interest in revisiting Glee, but the studio has not published a cast list or specified whether Rachel would play a leading or supporting role.
Heather Morris, who portrayed Brittany S. Pierce, also reacted publicly to the order. She wrote on Instagram that Brittany was “alive and well” and “back for more.” Chord Overstreet, who played Sam Evans, posted “Reunited and it feels so good!” Neither message supplied production details or established a complete roster of returning actors.
Jane Lynch has also said she would be happy to return as Sue Sylvester. Chris Colfer, who played Kurt Hummel, told Bustle he had not been contacted and would need more information before deciding whether to participate. Those differing public accounts underline why conversations about a reunion should not be treated as final casting decisions.
The potential reunion would also take place without three members of the original ensemble. Cory Monteith died in 2013, Mark Salling in 2018 and Naya Rivera in 2020. Disney has not explained whether the new scripts refer to their former characters.
Other revivals have defined their relationship to earlier stories more clearly. Netflix’s A Different World sequel follows new college students while bringing back established characters. No comparable description has been released for Glee, leaving it uncertain whether the series will continue existing characters’ stories or introduce another show choir.
The original 2015 finale showed Rachel winning a Tony and McKinley High becoming a performing-arts school.
The original six seasons remain available on Hulu in the United States, with 121 episodes listed. The Fox series won six Primetime Emmy Awards during its original run. Those earlier episodes provide the established story, but Disney has not stated whether its ending will serve as the starting point for the new series.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Glee reboot premiere?
Disney+ and Hulu have not announced a release date or filming schedule. The October 21 announcement confirmed the series order only.
Is Lea Michele returning as Rachel Berry?
Variety has reported that Michele is expected to return, and TheWrap reported that she was in talks. Disney has not formally announced her as part of the cast.
Which original cast members will return?
Ryan Murphy said he had contacted around 10 original performers. Heather Morris and Chord Overstreet have publicly signaled interest, but a complete cast list is unavailable.
Where can viewers watch the original Glee series?
All six seasons and 121 episodes of the original series are streaming on Hulu in the United States. The new series has been ordered for Disney+ and Hulu.
