HBO Max is taking us back to Degrassi High! On Jan. 13, the streamer announced that it’s reviving the Canadian teen series in 2023. The Bold Type‘s Lara Azzopardi and Riverdale‘s Julia Cohen have signed on as both showrunners and executive producers, with filming scheduled to take place in Toronto in the summer. WildBrain, who owns the Degrassi franchise, will be producing the remake. As of now, a cast has not been announced.
“Series after series, the Degrassi franchise continues to make an indelible impact on young viewers looking for trustworthy and authentic storytelling,” said Amy Friedman, head of kids and family programming at Warner Bros, said in a press release. “WildBrain continues to artfully capture high school life in a compelling format that can be experienced seamlessly on HBO Max.”
“I’m delighted that our first-ever commission from HBO Max is for Degrassi, a truly venerable franchise with a highly devoted and passionate audience,” WildBrain CEO Eric Ellenbogen added in a statement. “This is yet another evergreen property from our vast IP library that we are reviving with a fresh vision and creative-first approach.”
In a joint statement, Azzopardi and Cohen said, “What excites us maybe the most about reviving this beloved franchise is turning it into a truly serialized one-hour drama. We’re honored to be given the opportunity to lead this evolution and bring this iconic series back into people’s homes.”
The Degrassi franchise first premiered in 1980 with The Kids of Degrassi Street. It was then followed by Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, Degrassi: The Next Generation, and Netflix’s Degrassi: Next Class. HBO Max has also acquired all the US rights to all 14 seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation, which will be available to stream this spring.
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