The Long-Simmering ‘Scrubs’ Reboot Is Officially in Development at ABC
The long-rumored Scrubs reboot is officially in development at ABC, with 20th Century Television able to secure the involvement of series creator and executive producer Bill Lawrence.
While both Lawrence and the show’s principal cast have long been open about their desire to reunite and continue the Scrubs story, Lawrence’s massive February 2022 deal with Warner Bros. made things difficult.
Photo: HBO
To secure the show creator’s involvement, Disney needed to strike a deal with Warner Bros. After a week of negotiations, the details have been ironed out, and the Scrubs reboot is officially underway.
What Cast Members Are Returning?
According to a report from Deadline, Zach Braff (John “J.D. Dorian), Donald Faison (Christopher Turk), Sarah Chalke (Elliot Reed), and John C. McGinley (Perry Cox) are all in negotiations to return. The status of Judy Reyes (Carla Espinosa), who is currently starring in ABC’s High Potentiall, remains unclear.
The status of other Scrubs regulars, including Neil Flynn (Janitor), Ken Jenkins (Bob Kelso), and Eliza Coupe (Denise “Jo” Mahoney), is also uncertain.
Photo: Redbook
“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,” Lawrence told Deadline in October.
Why Lawrence Is Rebooting ‘Scrubs’
Scrubs originally ran on ABC for seven seasons from 2001 through 2008 before moving to ABC for two final seasons. The series followed a group of medical interns as they navigated life and work at Sacred Heart Hospital.
J.D. and Turk. Photo: BBC
While it sounds like most of the original series’ principal cast will return, Lawrence has been vocal that the appeal of Scrubs was watching the growth and development of young professionals in medicine.
“We’ve been talking about a lot, and I think the only real reason to do it is a combo,” Lawrence explained in October.
Scrubs. Photo: TV Series Finale
“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 Show Previously Tried to Pivot in Its Final Season
For Scrubs‘ ninth and final season, the show’s creative team attempted to shift the story away from J.D., Turk, and Elliot and to a new classic of medical students. The plan was to follow in the footsteps of ER.
Unfortunately, moving the show’s setting to a new medical school and introducing a cast of new characters was a bridge too far for many Scrubs fans, and the show was quickly canceled.
Photo: Also NBC
Now, Lawrence and the Scrubs cast seem ready to try again.
