It’s a big week for Gilmore Girls fans. Last week, Netflix officially confirmed their upcoming series revival and the return of the main cast members. Now, series star Lauren Graham has spoken to TVLine about her reaction to the reboot for the very first time.
Graham played single mother Lorelai Gilmore on the original WB series for seven seasons before it was cancelled in 2007.
Speaking to TVLine, Graham discussed reading the first episode of the revival (titled “Winter”) and walking back on the set for the first time:
Let me go back a day or two ago, when I walked onto the set for the first time. We had to do a camera test and… the house. [She gets choked up] It’s on a different stage but it’s… the house. Alexis [Bledel] and I walked onto the set together and — I feel super emotional about a lot of it and I’m afraid I’m going to start crying at every turn — but walking onto that set really felt like something. It felt like a lot of time had passed and it felt like we were just there. It felt amazing.”
Graham added that the four new episodes will address the absence of Richard Gilmore (actor Ed Herrmann passed away in 2014):
And then, today, to be in that room with everybody [for the table read]. It was just really emotional. I don’t know what I’m allowed to say. [Laughs] There’s a line [in the script] about how time has passed and how that feels… and hanging over all of it is the absence of Ed [Herrmann, who played Gilmore patriarch Richard], which, obviously the [revival] addresses. But that’s where we’re all starting from, and it feels so real. It’s hard to be here without him. You notice so many friendly faces and then a few that are missing. But more than anything, we just can’t believe it. All of the things that had to happen for this to happen.”
Graham also mentioned that scripts were long and fans will “for sure” be happy with them:
I read a scene with Kelly [Bishop, who plays matriarch Emily] today… and it was just completely alive. We have some really nice story together. And there’s definitely some resolution that we didn’t get [at the end of the series’ original run].”
The reboot will feature four 90-minute episodes written and directed by the series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband, Daniel Palladino. So far, it’s been announced that Graham is returning alongside Alexis Bledel, Scott Patterson, Kelly Bishop, Keiko Agena, and Sean Gunn.
What do you think? Are you excited for the Gilmore Girls revival? What do you think will happen? Who do you want to return?
I love love that this show is coming back. I loved the story line always. I wish it would be more then 4 shows though. Like that it is 90 mins long. Netflix’s I am so glad that you bring back the good shows and also hang on to your new shows. Thanks.
I hope Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) comes back! I’m so looking forward to watching the return of this series. I did not care for the way it ended. Thank you to all that made this happen.