Lea Michele Set to Reprise Rachel Berry in ‘Glee’ Revival
WHO:
Variety - Lea Michele had appeared opposite Jonathan Groff in “Spring Awakening”; she and Groff are real-life best friends.
Variety - Michele dated Cory Monteith in real life.
NBC News - “Glee” was created by Ryan Murphy; Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan wrote the reboot script. Murphy said he had contacted “around 10 of the original cast members,” who had questions but were “very enthusiastic about the idea.”
Variety - Lea Michele is returning as Rachel Berry, the role that launched her career, in the Disney+ and Hulu reboot. Multiple sources confirmed her return to Variety; one said, “She’s in,” and another said, “It’s still early-ish days, but it feels good and we’re happy to get the band back together.”
Deadline - Michele was in talks to reprise Rachel Berry in the reboot, according to sources who confirmed the news to Deadline.
NBC News - Chord Overstreet, who played Sam Evans, and Heather Morris, who played Brittany Pierce, posted messages suggesting they would return. Overstreet wrote, “Reunited and it feels so good!” Morris said Brittany had been “lost in the sewers for all these years” but was “alive and well…And back for more.”
Variety - Michele’s representatives and Murphy’s representatives did not comment. NBC News reported that Michele’s representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
NBC News - The original series’ cast included Naya Rivera as Santana Lopez, Cory Monteith as Finn Hudson, and Mark Salling as Noah Puckerman. Rivera died at 33, Monteith at 31, and Salling at 35.
WHAT:
Variety - After “Glee,” Michele had roles in film and television projects, including Ryan Murphy’s Fox series “Scream Queens.”
NBC News - “Glee” gained a new fanbase after streaming on Netflix; millions of fans share clips on TikTok.
NBC News - Fans have criticized some “Glee” storylines as “problematic” or “cringe,” including sexually suggestive songs performed by Mr. Schuester for his students.
NBC News - Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz hosted two “Glee” rewatch podcasts: “Showmance,” which ran from 2019–2020, and “That’s What You REALLY Missed,” which ran from 2022–2025.
NBC News - Kevin McHale recently reunited with Amber Riley, who attended his Broadway show; Darren Criss has won both a Tony and an Emmy.
NBC News - Darren Criss brought Chris Colfer onstage at a concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall to perform their “Glee” duet, a cover of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”
NBC News - Disney+ and Hulu announced that “Glee,” the musical comedy-drama about the fictional New Directions show choir, would return.
Variety - “Glee” ran for six seasons on Fox. Michele’s Rachel Berry was an original McKinley High glee club member who pursued Broadway ambitions and had difficult peer and personal relationships.
NBC News - The series received 10 Golden Globe nominations and won four. Its soundtrack covers appeared on the Billboard Hot 100.
NBC News - Samantha Ware, Jeanté Godlock, Alex Newell and Dabier Snell accused Michele of treating them poorly on the show. Michele apologized in a 2020 Instagram statement for her “behavior and any pain” she had caused.
Variety - Michele was nominated for an Emmy and two Golden Globes for “Glee.” She appeared on Broadway in “Les Misérables,” “Ragtime,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Spring Awakening” and the “Funny Girl” revival.
WHERE:
NBC News - Naya Rivera drowned while boating with her 4-year-old son on a California lake.
NBC News - Darren Criss’s concert featuring Chris Colfer took place at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
NBC News - “Glee” was set at McKinley High School and originally aired on Fox; the reboot is for Disney+ and Hulu.
Variety - The original series finale showed Rachel winning a Tony, marrying Jesse St. James and becoming a surrogate mother for Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson.
WHEN:
Variety - “Scream Queens” ran from 2015 to 2016.
Variety - “Glee” aired on Fox from 2009 to 2015; its series finale aired March 20, 2015.
NBC News - Murphy discussed the script and cast outreach in an Entertainment Tonight interview in September.
Variety - Michele joined the “Funny Girl” Broadway revival in 2022; Overstreet’s social media post was dated October 21, 2026.
WHY:
Variety - Michele’s “Funny Girl” performance drew attention for its connection to Rachel Berry’s long-running ambition to play Fanny Brice.
Variety - Michele said she would be happy to join a reboot, saying, “I love ‘Glee.’ I will always love ‘Glee,’” and “I will follow Ryan wherever he goes.”
HOW:
NBC News - Murphy said he, Falchuk and Brennan had written a reboot script; Disney+ and Hulu announced the series’ return through a social media post.
Deadline - The reboot series order was revealed one day before Deadline reported Michele’s talks to reprise her role.
(UPDATED October 22, 2026 01:21 UTC)
“Glee” is returning on Disney+ and Hulu, with Lea Michele set to reprise her role as Rachel Berry, the character that launched her career. The reboot script was written by series creator Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, and Murphy said he had contacted around 10 original cast members, who were enthusiastic about the idea. Chord Overstreet and Heather Morris have also posted messages hinting they’ll return. The original musical comedy-drama ran for six seasons on Fox, earning 10 Golden Globe nominations and four wins, while its soundtrack covers reached the Billboard Hot 100. After streaming brought the show a new fanbase, viewers have also criticized some storylines as problematic. Michele, who dated co-star Cory Monteith, later apologized for behavior that castmates said had hurt them. The cast has continued to reconnect through podcasts and performances, including a recent London concert featuring Darren Criss and Chris Colfer.
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(UPDATED October 21, 2026 23:18 UTC)
“Glee” is returning in a reboot for Disney+ and Hulu, with original star Lea Michele set to reprise Rachel Berry. Creator Ryan Murphy wrote the reboot script with Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, and says he has contacted around 10 original cast members, who were enthusiastic. Chord Overstreet and Heather Morris have also posted messages hinting they’ll return. The original musical comedy aired for six seasons on Fox and earned 10 Golden Globe nominations, winning four. Michele’s Rachel was an ambitious singer pursuing Broadway; Michele later appeared on Broadway and was nominated for an Emmy and two Golden Globes for “Glee.” The series found a new audience on Netflix, while fans have also criticized some storylines as problematic. Michele apologized in 2020 after several cast members accused her of treating them poorly. Naya Rivera, Cory Monteith and Mark Salling, who starred in the original series, have died.
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(UPDATED October 21, 2026 20:17 UTC)
“Glee” is returning in a reboot for Disney+ and Hulu, with Lea Michele set to reprise Rachel Berry, the role that launched her career. Creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan have written the script, and Murphy says he has contacted around 10 original cast members, who were enthusiastic. Chord Overstreet and Heather Morris have also posted messages hinting they’ll return. The original musical comedy-drama followed McKinley High’s New Directions choir and ran for six seasons on Fox. It earned 10 Golden Globe nominations, winning four, while its soundtrack covers reached the Billboard Hot 100. Michele, who was nominated for an Emmy and two Golden Globes for the series, has said she loves “Glee” and would follow Murphy. The reboot brings renewed attention to a show that also faced allegations of mistreatment against Michele; she apologized in 2020 for her behavior and any pain she caused.