In television, great shows never truly fade away — and in a year that has seen revivals from series as varied as The Office and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the beloved 2000s medical sitcom Scrubs is next in line.
It has been 24 years since Zach Braff’s character, the young doctor JD, first stepped into Sacred Heart Hospital. Now, Braff has confirmed he will return as JD in ABC’s upcoming Scrubs revival, which is expected to blend new and original cast members.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because ABC attempted a similar approach during Scrubs’ short-lived ninth season, when Braff and other regulars passed the torch to a younger cast. The idea failed to connect with viewers, and the season was canceled after only nine episodes.
Now, nearly two decades later, ABC is giving it another try. Original creator Bill Lawrence is leading the project, planning a hybrid reboot and revival.
With Braff officially on board, Entertainment Weekly reports that more original cast members are likely to follow.
“We’ve discussed it at length, and I believe the best reason to move forward is a combination,” Lawrence previously told Deadline.
“First, viewers want to see the medical world through the eyes of characters they already love — that’s part of any successful reboot. Second, that show always worked because it showed young, idealistic people entering medicine as a true calling.”
Scrubs originally aired 182 episodes from 2001 to 2010. No release date has been announced for the new episodes.
