Jared Padalecki Joining ‘Gilmore Girls’ Reboot On Netflix
Jared Padalecki will be reprising his role as Dean in the upcoming revival of Gilmore Girls slated for release on Netflix, according to Variety. Padalecki starred in the original version from 2000-05 that aired on the CW, the same network that cast him in the lead role of Supernatural, currently in its 11th season. The reunion will air as a miniseries, consisting of four 90-minute episodes on the popular streaming service. Padalecki’s addition may be the final piece of the puzzle to the show that has already started production. However, a premiere date has yet to be announced.
Jared Padalecki played Rory’s (Alexis Bledel) first boyfriend, Dean Forester, and was on the show for five seasons. All the main principles, including Lauren Graham, Bledel, Scott Patterson, Kelly Bishop, Sean Gunn, Liza Weil, Keiko Agena, Matt Czuchry, and Milo Ventimiglia, have signed on for what will be the show’s eighth season. Netflix also announced the addition of a new cast member, Sutton Foster (Younger), who was briefly seen on Bunheads, a short-lived drama on ABC Family. Padalecki and the rest of the cast will be reunited in Stars Hollow nearly eight years after the finale aired.
Jared Padalecki’s inclusion in the revival will certainly spark rumors as to how the show will play out. Padalecki’s Dean, Ventimiglia’s Jess and Czuchry’s Logan were all love interests of Rory in the show. It was Dean who took Rory’s virginity despite being married to another woman at the time. The spotlight was on Padalecki in Season 2 and 3, while appearing as a recurring guest star in Season 1, 4, and 5. His final appearance of the series came in the 18th episode of Season 5, in an encounter with Luke Danes, played by Patterson. The two compared their relationship failures, and Dean was never heard from or seen again.
In addition to the news of Jared Padalecki signing on, Variety also reports that David Sutcliffe will return to reprise his role as Christopher Hayden, the father of Rory and ex-husband of Lauren Graham’s Lorelai. Sutcliffe, while only appearing in 37 episodes, was involved in all seven seasons in some fashion or another.
Like many shows of this genre, loyal fans were split over who their favorite boyfriend of Rory was. Back in June, Jared Padalecki revealed to US Weekly his thoughts on the matter.
“I’m team Jess. I admit it. I even told Milo. I’m totally team Jess.”
Ventimiglia shared his opinion during the same interview.
“Oh, man, I have no idea. I’ve been vocal about being team Dean, so maybe she should have gone way back around to the very beginning. That would have been nice.”
Jared Padalecki and Milo Ventimiglia’s comments came about during an informal reunion back in June 2015 at the ATX TV Festival in Austin, Texas. Padalecki was initially asked about the idea of returning to the show should a reboot become a reality, and clearly he was all for it.
“Totally for a reboot. I love the character of Dean and now I’m on a show where I play Sam, and my brother is Dean… I’d love to go get the opportunity to go and wrap up Dean’s story. See where Dean is.”
Fans of Jared Padalecki and the Gilmore Girls will now get the opportunity to see where Dean and the rest of the cast are eight years later. Ever since the advent of Netflix and Hulu, shows are getting new opportunities to satisfy viewers who thought they didn’t get enough the first time around. Full House is returning in the form of Fuller House, and now Gilmore Girls gets a second send-off. What other shows deserve a revived second run?
[Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images]
