Get ready to warm up those vocal cords, Gleeks, because Glee is officially making a comeback. After more than a decade away from William McKinley High School, Ryan Murphy’s musical dramedy is being rebooted — and if you’ve missed one too many practices with the New Directions, think of this as your backstage pass to everything you need to know.
Following months of speculation about whether he would revisit the show, Murphy is back alongside original co-creators Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, and several familiar faces have teased their return. But with no premiere date, plot details or full cast announcement just yet, there’s still plenty we don’t know.
Whether you were a devoted fan from the beginning or are discovering the series for the first time, here’s everything to know about the Glee reboot, from the latest casting news to the original series’ legacy and where to stream all six seasons.
Is Glee Really Getting a Reboot?
Yes, Gleeks, it’s official! Disney+ and Hulu announced a new Glee series on Oct. 21, 2026.
Murphy had been hinting at a revival for months before the official announcement. In July, he told People that the show had found a new audience among younger viewers, prompting him to reconsider its future. By September, he told Entertainment Tonight that he had finished a script with Falchuk and Brennan and been in touch with around 10 original cast members regarding the potential comeback.
“They all had a lot of questions, but they all were very enthusiastic about the idea,” he said.
When Will the Glee Reboot Premiere?
That’s the big question — and, for now, there’s no answer.
Disney+ and Hulu have ordered the series, but no premiere date, production schedule, episode count or official full cast list has been announced.
In other words, the comeback is real, but the details are still a work in progress.
Which Original Glee Cast Members Are Returning?
Variety reported that Lea Michele is set to return as Rachel Berry, although the reboot’s official announcement did not include a complete cast list. Michele expressed affection for the series during an interview with E! News in September, and said she would follow Murphy wherever he goes.
Several other former cast members have offered hints that they could be interested in returning. Heather Morris, who played Brittany S. Pierce, shared a playful social media post with the caption that her character was “back for more.” Chord Overstreet, who portrayed Sam Evans, posted a reunion-themed message, while Jenna Ushkowitz, who played Tina Cohen-Chang, also made a social media post that seemed like a possible hint.
Jane Lynch has been particularly enthusiastic about the idea of reprising her role as Sue Sylvester. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, she even pitched a possible future for her character: Sue could become a school superintendent, abolish music programs and funnel the money into a Broadway cheerleading production called The Sue Sylvester Follies. And honestly? We’d buy a ticket.
Other cast members have been more uncertain. In a recent interview with Bustle, Chris Colfer said he had heard “absolutely nothing” about the reboot and acknowledged that returning would be difficult following the death of his co-star Naya Rivera. Still, he joked that fans would come after him “with pitchforks and jazz hands” if he turned it down.
Matthew Morrison, who played Will Schuester, is reportedly not in talks to return, although he remains hopeful about the revival. Harry Shum Jr., who portrayed Mike Chang, has also expressed excitement about the reboot’s potential, despite saying he had not received a call from Murphy.
Kevin McHale, meanwhile, has previously expressed reservations about playing Artie Abrams, a character who uses a wheelchair. But as reboot speculation picked up, he seems more open to returning, telling People, “I could never say no to that.”
For now, Michele is the only cast member whose return has been officially reported. The social media teases and expressions of interest are promising, but the rest of the lineup remains a mystery.
What Is Glee About?
Premiering on Fox in 2009, Glee followed the New Directions, a show choir revived by Spanish teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), who hoped to recapture the glory days of his own high-school singing career. Under his direction, a group of students navigated friendship, romance, identity and the general chaos of adolescence — all while delivering fierce musical face-offs.
At the center of it all was Rachel Berry (Lea Michele), a fiercely ambitious Broadway hopeful whose confidence was matched only by her determination to become a star. She shared the spotlight with Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith), the football player turned glee club performer who became her on-again, off-again love interest.
The ensemble also included cheerleaders Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera) and Brittany S. Pierce (Heather Morris) — not to be confused with the decidedly less talented Britney Spears — powerhouse vocalist Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley), the fabulous Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) and a rotating cast of classmates whose personal lives often brought as much drama as the competitions themselves.
And then there was Sue Sylvester, the ruthless Cheerios coach whose personal mission was to destroy New Directions by any means necessary. With her elaborate sabotage schemes, razor-sharp insults and ongoing feud with Will Schuester and his product-filled hair, Sue became one of the show’s most iconic characters. But beneath all that bite, Sue had her tender moments, revealing a softer side that helped make her a fan favorite.
By the 2015 finale, Rachel had achieved her Broadway dreams, Will had become principal of McKinley High, which had transformed into a performing arts school, and Sue had somehow made it all the way to the White House as vice president.
Over six seasons and 121 episodes, Glee became a pop-culture phenomenon, spawning hit soundtrack albums, concert tours and a fiercely devoted fan base. But beyond the music and show-stopping performances, the series tackled hard-hitting issues, including bullying, racism, disability, sexuality and mental health.
Glee also broke ground with its LGBTQ+ representation, exploring Kurt Hummel’s experiences as a gay teenager, his relationship with Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss), and Santana Lopez’s emotional coming-out journey. Through these storylines, the show brought conversations about identity, love and acceptance to mainstream television.
Remembering the Glee Cast Members We’ve Lost
A Glee revival also comes with bittersweet realities. Three prominent members of the original cast have passed away since the show premiered, and their absence remains an important part of the show’s legacy.
Cory Monteith died in July 2013 while Glee was still airing. The series honored him in Season 5 with an emotional episode in which the characters came together to grieve Finn.
Mark Salling, who portrayed Noah “Puck” Puckerman, died in January 2018.
Naya Rivera died in July 2020. Her death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and former co-stars, many of whom celebrated the impact of her performance as Santana.
Their absence will inevitably shape how fans experience a revival. Whatever form the new series takes, the original cast members and the stories they helped bring to life remain an essential part of what made Glee so impactful.
Where Can You Stream the Original Glee?
The original Glee is available to stream on Hulu and Disney+. The reboot will air on the same platforms.
Before the new series premieres, there’s still time to brush up on your favorite New Directions performances, revisit Sue Sylvester’s finest insults and prepare for the inevitable urge to sing along to covers that may or may not be better than the original songs.
Disney+ offers a number of subscription options, so you can find the one that works for you. With ads, a subscription costs $12.49/month; without ads, it’s $21.49/month or $214.99/year.
There are also Disney+ bundles with Hulu, HBO Max, and ESPN+, so you can subscribe to up to three services at once and save over 40% every month. The bundles are available in a few different configurations, starting at $12.99/month for Disney+ and Hulu with ads, and going up to $34.99/month for Disney+, Hulu, and Max ad-free.
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- Glee
- Ryan Murphy