Ryan Murphy considers 'Glee' return, acknowledging show's new audience and tragic past

Ryan Murphy, the creator of the hit musical series "Glee," is contemplating a return for the show that defined a generation of television.

Murphy recently told The Hollywood Reporter that he is evaluating the possibility of reviving the series, though not necessarily as a direct continuation of the original storyline. He noted that a new generation of viewers has discovered "Glee" through streaming platforms, reigniting interest in the show. "So many people who are now in their twenties grew up watching that series and it meant something to them. The music meant something. So, we are going to look at it and see what comes out of it. For me, it is always about the story," Murphy explained.

"Glee" originally aired for six seasons from 2009 to 2015, following the lives of students in the William McKinley High School glee club. The series blended comedy, teen drama, and musical numbers while tackling themes such as bullying, discrimination, sexual identity, and adolescent struggles.

However, any potential revival would inevitably be marked by the series of tragedies that have befallen several of its main cast members, leading to widespread discussion of a "Glee" curse. The theory gained significant traction after the 2013 death of Cory Monteith, who played Finn Hudson, from an alcohol and heroin overdose at age 31. His passing occurred while the show was still in production and was written into the series' narrative.

Further fueling the "curse" narrative were the deaths of Mark Salling, who portrayed Noah “Puck” Puckerman, who died by suicide in 2018 at age 35, and Naya Rivera, who played Santana Lopez. Rivera tragically drowned in 2020 at age 33 while boating with her son; authorities ruled her death an accidental drowning. These successive events have kept the theories about a supposed curse linked to the "Glee" cast circulating on social media.

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So many people who are now in their twenties grew up watching that series and it meant something to them. The music meant something. So, we are going to look at it and see what comes out of it. For me, it is always about the story.