Hulu has announced that it has acquired the streaming rights to Will & Grace ahead of its upcoming revival.
“There’s no question that Will & Grace has resonated with audiences since the series made its broadcast premiere. To be able to bring such an iconic show into the streaming universe for the first time ever is an opportunity we couldn’t pass up,” said Joel Stillerman, Chief Content Officer, Hulu. “This landmark deal will allow fans to re-watch their favorite moments ahead of the series premiere, as well as bring Will & Grace and its cast of characters to a whole new audience.”
Beginning Thursday, September 21st, all eight seasons of the praised comedy, one of very few programs in television history whose entire principle ensemble won Emmys, will be available to stream through the platform, the NBC app, and various On Demand providers. It’s a huge get for Hulu, already riding high on becoming the first streaming platform to win an Outstanding Series Emmy, that comes after major streaming deals with TGIF comedies, 20th Century FOX properties, Seinfeld, and The Golden Girls, to name a few. As Netflix abandons its acquired content to go all in on its original scripted series, Hulu seems to be doubling down on its original identity as a television library while still fleshing out its scripted brand in a (relatively) cost effective manner.
The new 16-episode season of Will & Grace is set to premiere Thursday, September 28th at 9:00 on NBC. The show has already been renewed for a second revival season.
