Class will not be back in session at Degrassi Community School.
HBO Max has scrapped its plans for the reboot of the beloved Canadian franchise, according to the Wall Street Journal. This is only the latest series the streamer has axed since the Discovery-WarnerMedia merger.
The new Degrassi series, set to consist of 10 hourlong episodes, would focus on how a new group of students and school staff cope with the events that both unite and divide them.
When the reboot was first announced, Josh Scherba, president of WildBrain Studios, the revival’s producer, said creators “have envisioned an evolution for Degrassi that, while staying true to the fundamental honesty, humanity and integrity of the brand, promises fans a journey into exciting new territory, both creatively and dramatically,” according to Entertainment Weekly.
Lara Azzopardi (The Bold Type) and Julia Cohen (Riverdale) were set as showrunners of the series, which was slated to begin production in Toronto this past summer.
“What excites us maybe the most about reviving this beloved franchise is turning it into a truly serialized one-hour drama,” Azzopardi and Cohen said in a statement at the time, per TVLine. “We’re honored to be given the opportunity to lead this evolution and bring this iconic series back into people’s homes.”
The new Degrassi would have marked the sixth installment in the Canadian teen soap franchise, following The Kids of Degrassi Street (1979-1986), Degrassi Junior High (1987-1989), Degrassi High (1989-1991), Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001-2015) and Degrassi: Next Class (2016-2017).
The Next Generation was the longest-running and most popular installment of the franchise to date, with stars like Drake and Nina Dobrev getting their show business start on it.