Showtime has given a series order to The L Word, a sequel to the network’s 2004-2009 drama.
“Marja has brought her unique and contemporary vision to The L Word and blended it beautifully into the fabric of Ilene’s groundbreaking series,” said Gary Levine, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks. “This revered show was both entertaining and impactful when it originally ran on Showtime, and we are confident that our new version will do that and more in 2019.”
From playwright Marja-Lewis Ryan, with original series creator/showrunner Ilene Chaiken (Empire) executive producing, The L Word follows a group of queer characters experiencing love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks, and success on the east side of L.A. One of the goals of the sequel series is said to be reflecting upon what’s changed since the original aired and what it means to be queer as we approach the 2020s.
In addition to executive producing, original series stars Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, and Katherine Moennig will reprise their roles as a point of connection from the prior series to the new one, similar to how The CW’s 90210 reboot brought on original characters to ease the transition from one series to the next. There’s no word yet on whether we’ll see any other original characters during the show’s first season.
As much as the television landscape has changed since The L Word signed off 10 years ago, it comes back to television with still very few series featuring predominantly queer casts. While representation as a whole has gotten better, it’s primarily been found in supporting roles backing cisgender, heterosexual lead characters, which makes the success of something like The L Word incredibly important.
You can take a look at the original L Word below.
