Sources have revealed that a reboot of Showtime’s hit drama The L Word may be in the works.
The series, which ran on Showtime from January 18, 2004 to March 8, 2009, and in syndication on Logo since, was considered groundbreaking for its frank and no-frills approach to lesbian relationships, as it followed the exploits of a group of lesbians and their friends. It was particularly noteworthy for a nuanced portrayal of an often under-represented and marginalized group in a way that was not hyper-sexualized, and the return of the series comes after a recent trend in deaths of lesbian characters on other popular shows. It won a number of Satellite awards and GLAAD Media awards, and achieved notoriety for its straightforward portrayal of lesbianism, which was considered groundbreaking for its time. Popular perception of the LGTBQ community has evolved since then, and thus, the reboot is determined to reflect those social changes (and highlight was still hasn’t changed) in the new series.
To that end, original series creator Ilene Chaiken will reportedly stay on as the reboot’s executive producer, but Showtime is reputedly bringing in a new writer, one with specific ties to the lesbian community, to bring in a fresh, updated perspective. The story, if the project is greenlit, will surround a new group of women and their trials and tribulations – but this doesn’t mean there isn’t the potential to see some familiar faces from the orginal series. Several members of the show’s original cast, most notably Jennifer Beals, Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey, are set to be brought on as producers, and could be potentially reprising their roles. None of this has been confirmed as of yet, but we can expect to hear more if the project gets the go-ahead from Showtime.
Showtime has yet to comment further, but with all of the hype and interest involved, the return of the beloved drama is more than just credible.
