Before there was Euphoria, there was Degrassi. The controversial and shock-worthy subject matter that was presented by the franchise has imprinted on an entire generation, gaining legendary status because of the innumerable OMG moments throughout the series.
Come 2023 Degrassi will be restarted, continuing the Canadian series’ legacy with new episodes. Degrassi’s reboot will be managed by showrunners Lara Azzopardi and Julia Cohen—Cohen has done work on Riverdale, according to NME.
Keeping the show’s theme the same as past seasons, the reboot will be centered on Toronto high schoolers “living in the shadow of events that both bind them together and tear them apart,” according to NME.
Those who have kept up with the Degrassi franchise, specifically Degrassi:The Next Generation, know that there have been countless things that have torn, bound and rebounded the characters together. Like when Gavin a.k.a Spinner(Shane Kippel) told his friend Jimmy (Aubrey Graham a.k.a. Drake) that he was responsible for him getting shot, compelling Jimmy to unfriend Spinner. Drake’s character Jimmy ended up re-friending him seasons later.
In case you were unaware, prior to Drake becoming a rap sensation he portrayed the role of Jimmy Brooks—a budding basketball star turned paraplegic on Degrassi: The Next Generation. This spring all 14 seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation will be streamable on HBO since the network has acquired the U.S. rights to the series, according to NME.
Degrassi making a comeback is highly anticipated, and extremely welcomed by those who were old enough to enjoy Degrassi: The Next Generation while it was running on Teen Nickelodean. Back when Teen Nick was called The N. This nostalgia-inducing component of the Degrassi revival is exciting to both Azzopardi and Cohen.
“What excites us maybe the most about reviving this beloved franchise is turning it into a truly seralised one-hour drama, Azzopardi and Cohen said in statement, “We’re honoured to be given the opportunity to lead this evolution and bring this iconic series back into people’s homes.”