The Gossip Girl revival on HBO Max will not be continuing for a third season. The news of the cancelation was announced just a week before the airing of the second season finale, set to premiere on Jan. 26. The show, which was a revival of the original series, had high expectations as it capitalized on the popularity of the original series which pulled in impressive viewership numbers on HBO Max. Unfortunately, however, it could not match the original show's success.
The Gossip Girl revival was set in the same New York private high school as the original, eight years after the events of the original series. The show followed a similar structure, with the return of the narrator, an all-knowing blogger, whose identity is revealed to the audience but remains hidden from the characters. It also featured a diverse cast and received praise for its inclusion of queer stories.
In his statement about the cancelation of the show, series showrunner, Josh Safran, expressed disappointment about the streaming service's decision but also expressed gratitude for the support provided by the studio. He also thanked the cast and crew, saying it was the best set he had ever worked on. Furthermore, he gave a hint of hope to fans by mentioning that they were searching for another platform to continue the show but acknowledged that it might be difficult in the current climate. Lastly, he said that the second season's final episode would provide some resolution to the story so far, indicating that the decision to cancel the show was made before or during the second season.
Gossip Girl Revival Failed to Replicate Original Show's Success
When the revival premiered in 2021, HBO Max had high hopes for it, as it had previously seen success with revivals of other legacy shows like Sex and the City and Pretty Little Liars. The streaming giant had hoped to duplicate the success achieved with the revival of these shows, but unfortunately, Gossip Girl struggled to replicate the magic that made the original show a major hit. Critical reviews for the show's first season were mixed, and though it improved with the second season, HBO Max was clearly not impressed by the numbers it was receiving on its backend.
In a statement, HBO Max expressed its gratitude for the team behind the Gossip Girl revival show and said,
“We are very grateful to showrunner/executive producer Joshua Safran, and executive producers Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz for bringing us back to the Upper East Side and all the scandals at Constance Billard. Although we are not moving forward with a third season of Gossip Girl, we thank them for the enticing love triangles, calculated backstabbing and impeccable fashion this series brought to a new audience.”
Fans will have to wait and see if another platform picks up the series, but for now, it seems the Gossip Girl revival has come to an end. This news is certainly a disappointment for the show's dedicated fanbase, who had eagerly awaited the release of the second season finale, set to premiere on HBO Max on Jan. 26.