The Scrubs Revival: Will It Happen? Everything We Know

Ever since the show went off the air in 2010, a revival of Scrubshas been in high demand, but will the medical comedy ever return? Debuting in 2001, Scrubs concerns a young doctor named JD (Zach Braff) who begins his career at Sacred Heart Hospital and tries to survive the hectic world of medicine. With a full and robust ensemble cast including Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke, Scrubs managed to balance surrealist and imaginative humor with legitimately heart-wrenching drama. The series had a respectable nine-season run before quietly leaving the air at the turn of the decade.

Unfortunately, the ending of Scrubs was somewhat clouded by controversy as plans to end the show after season 8 were adjusted when the series was renewed for another year. Season 9 didn’t follow many of the beloved characters from the first eight years, and the Med School rebrand was something of a notorious TV flop despite the best of intentions. In the minds of many long-term viewers, season 9 negated the poignant conclusion offered by season 8, and hopes for a return have bloomed in the decade-and-a-half since the original series’ cancelation. Now, the Scrubs reboot is seemingly gaining steam.

The Scrubs Revival Latest News

Bill Lawrence Says A Scrubs Revival Is “Close”

A few months after he set the internet ablaze with speculation regarding a reboot, the latest news sees creator Bill Lawrence offer an update on the Scrubs revival. Bill Lawrence has been adamant that the medical comedy will return, and in his latest update, mentions that it is “getting really close to being figured out.“ Lawrence also confirmed that many of the same minds behind the original series are back on board behind-the-scenes, and that the revival will be a hybrid between the old and new.

Read Lawrence’s full comments here:

I think it’s getting really close to being figured out, and I think in a good way. Big chunks of the creative team behind the camera, and most of it from in front of the camera, are all super invested and excited, so very close.

We’ve been talking about a lot, and I think the only real reason to do it is a combo. A: people wanting to see what the world of medicine was like for the people they love, which is part of any successful reboot. But B: I think that show always worked because you get to see young people dropped into the world of medicine, knowing young people that go there are super idealistic and are doing it because it’s a calling. There’s no cliché ‘rich doctors playing golf’ — that’s not what it is anymore. So I think that, no matter what it is, it would be a giant mistake not to do as a combo of those two things.

The Scrubs Revival Isn’t Confirmed (Yet)

The Project Isn’t Officially In Development

Even though demand is high, and creator Bill Lawrence is eager to bring Scrubs back, the revival isn’t confirmed yet. Lawrence’s talk about reviving the show included speculation about beginning the development phase, but that work hasn’t started. If, however, development does begin in earnest on the Scrubs revival, there’s little doubt that it will quickly rush through that phase and enter production. With the series remaining popular decades later, a revival wouldn’t struggle to find a potential streaming home.

What Has The Cast Said About A Scrubs Revival?

Zach Braff Is Eager To Return

The biggest failing of Scrubs’ disastrous final season was that it largely ignored the main characters who had carried the series for the better part of a decade. As such, a revival of Scrubs absolutely needs the main stars to reprise their roles to make it a true return. Fortunately, JD actor Zach Braff is eager to return to reprise his role, hinging the entire possibility on Bill Lawrence. Speaking for the whole cast, Braff said “it [would] be a hundred percent in [Bill Lawrence’s] hands, if he said yes and figured it out, we’d all be there.“

After Bill Lawrence insisted that the revival would happen, Braff offered his thoughts Scrubs‘ return and even chimed in about where he thinks JD would be in the storyline. “I think he’s more in the Dr. Cox position these days. He’s the senior doctor to the hospital,” said Braff, suggesting the actor has thought extensively about his character’s future. With that being the most logical progression of the story, Braff willingness to return makes for welcome news.

The Scrubs Revival Story Details

Many Loose Threads After Season 9

Based on Bill Lawrence’s comments, it’s clear that a revival of Scrubs would be a direct continuation of the series instead of a reboot. With actors like Braff, Faison, and Chalke back on board, the revival could catch up with the practicing physicians and see how their lives have progressed in the years since 2010. Also, the revival could add a wealth of new supporting characters that would allow the roles to reverse.

Though that’s what was attempted with Med School, the Scrubs revival could finally cast JD and company as the experienced doctors teaching the next generation of M.D.s. Lawrence has confirmed that the revival is going to be a mix of the old and new, and it could be that he plans to redeem the Med School concept all these years later.

Scrubs is a Sitcom and Medical Comedy/Drama created by Bill Lawrence that follows a group of medical students throughout their daily lives at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital. The series stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison, as they work their way up from Medical Interns while juggling all sorts of hospital shenanigans.

Cast

John C. McGinley , Robert Maschio , Donald Faison , Christa Miller , Neil Flynn , Judy Reyes , Aloma Wright , Zach Braff , Sarah Chalke , Sam Lloyd , Ken Jenkins

Release Date

October 1, 2001

Seasons

9

Writers

Bill Lawrence

Directors

Bill Lawrence

Showrunner

Bill Lawrence

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