20 TV actors who want nothing to do with a reboot

Don’t expect Steve Carell to join for a reboot of The Office. The actor who popularized the character Michael Scott reportedly doesn’t have any desire to return to his sitcom roots for reprisal. For any Office fan who can’t accept this reality, there are over 140 episodes of Carell as Scott to go back and binge. 

Don’t count on David Hyde Pierce popping up in any potential future episodes of the Frasier reboot. Pierce played Niles in the show’s original run, and he wants to keep his character in the past. A couple of new characters were recruited to fill Niles’ void in the reboot. 

Cole Sprouse has no intention of ever playing Cody Martin again. The actor said on The Drew Barrymore Show that there will never be a The Suite Life of Zack and Cody reboot. After the twins’ reaction to a resurfaced clip from the show going viral in November 2023, it’s unsurprising that they’re not game for reprising their roles. 

When Full House rebooted to Fuller House for Netflix, one original sister was noticeably absent: Michelle. Since Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen split the same role, only one of them would be needed for a reprisal, but neither of them wanted to join. 

Reporters have asked Adam Brody whether he'd be game for reprising his role as Seth Cohen in an O.C. reboot, and his answer was pretty clear: unless he's paid handsomely, he doesn't want to do it. While the revelation is disappointing, it's understandable. 

Shelley Morrison famously played Rosario on Will & Grace in its original run, but when the show was rebooted in the late 2010s, she opted not to be part of it because she had retired. In 2019, Morrison sadly died, and her former co-stars sang her praises online. 

Sam Puckett was arguably the best part of iCarly’s original run, but the actor who played her, Jennette McCurdy, didn’t want to revisit the character when the show was rebooted for Paramount+. Her former co-stars wanted her to join, but they understood her choice. McCurdy publicly shared the trauma she was working through in her personal life during her childhood acting career.  

There are still legions of rabid Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans, many of whom are aching for a reboot. Sarah Michelle Gellar, the titular character, won’t be returning for it if it is to happen, though. The former star has given the idea her blessing, she just doesn’t want to be part of it. 

George Clooney has become such a big movie star that it’s hard to believe he rose to fame by acting in E.R. The actor doesn’t think an E.R. reboot would be a good idea. According to him, it’d be difficult to capture that same magic again. 

Julianna Marguiles acted alongside George Clooney in E.R. for years, and she agrees with her former co-star that a reboot isn’t wise. She’d rather look back on the show fondly than try to recreate a special time in her life. 

Michael Ontkean had the opportunity to reprise his Twin Peaks role in the reboot, but he turned it down. Not much was reported about Ontkean’s exact reasons, but it was surmised that the decision stemmed from his earlier decision to retire from acting. Can’t blame a man for staying retired in retirement. 

When Dallas rebooted for a sequel series, fans of the original show were hopeful that they’d see Victoria Principal, who played Pamela Ewing in the series, join the cast. The star put all fan hope to rest with a statement ahead of time, making it clear she had no intention of reprising her role. 

Holly Marie Combs was very skeptical of the Charmed reboot before it aired. The actor worried that the series was unfairly excluding original cast members because of their ages. The reboot was ultimately canceled after four seasons. 

Connie Britton has no intention of ever reprising her Friday Night Lights role. The actor said she’s certain she and her co-stars will reunite in a more informal capacity, but she doesn’t see a movie or TV reboot happening. Britton said she doesn’t think it’s a good idea. 

Chad Michael Murray turned down the opportunity to reprise his brief Gilmore Girls role in the reboot Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. The statement he made about it seemed as though he wanted to be part of it but couldn’t make it work. The actor is totally game for a One Tree Hill reunion, though. 

Okay, Kim Cattrall wanted almost nothing to do with a reboot. She was ardently against joining her former Sex and the City cast members for the series And Just Like That…, but she did make a small cameo in the second season. Whether she’ll make more small appearances in future episodes remains to be seen, but she clearly doesn’t want to act with her old co-stars. 

Zachary Quinto appeared in nearly every episode of the late 2000s series Heroes, but when he had the opportunity to join the reboot Heroes: Reborn, he opted against it. Quinto has nothing but fond memories of the original run, but he wanted to move forward with other projects instead of a reboot. 

When it was announced that Murder, She Wrote would be rebooted, Angela Lansbury, the show’s original star, was not thrilled. She made it clear that she found the idea, well, bad, and she thought they should give the series a different name. Lansbury was ultimately vindicated when the reboot fell through. 

The Bionic Woman got the reboot treatment in the mid-aughts, and the original show’s star, Lindsay Wagner, did not have good things to say about it. The rebooted series was canceled early on, and it was easy to see why, per Wagner. 

Gordon Thomson wasn’t happy with his show’s reboot, either. When the CW rebooted Dynasty, Thomson made his feelings about it very clear, saying Aaron Spelling also wouldn’t be happy with the turnout.