Mid-noughties television series The L Word was an iconic and influential show for many queer people, and rite-of-passage viewing for a diverse range of LGBTQI+ people, particularly women and femme-identifying.
It was announced in July this year that the series would be returning (some sites are referring to it as a reboot, while others are saying it is a 'sequel' series), so a whole new generation of LGBTQI+ people could enjoy a modern version of the trailblazing show, which dedicated itself wholly to the queer female experience.
This week, it was confirmed that screenwriter and playwright Marja-Lewis Ryan would be the showrunner on the rebooted series. Deadline reported that Ryan would also be an executive producer, alongside Ilene Chaiken - the creator of the original series - and stars Jennifer Beals (Bette), Kate Moennig (Shane), and Leisha Hailey (Alice).
“Ilene and the original L Word made me believe that my voice mattered,” said Ryan. “I am beyond excited for the opportunity to usher in the next generation of diverse queer people. I couldn’t imagine a better time to make this show.”
“Showtime met with a number of writers with ties to the lesbian community,” Deadline's source revealed. "The follow-up series is aimed at reflecting how members of that community’s relationships, their lives, and experiences have evolved and what has changed (and what hasn’t) since the show’s inception.”
Ryan also said that Bette, Shane and Alice will “appear on the new series as their original characters as a point of connection from the prior series to the new one.”
Nostalgic fans of the original series are rejoicing on social media for the new series:
The sequel/reboot of The L Word is scheduled for release in 2018.
THIRST FOR SHANE: REIGNITED. Source: Tumblr
