Everyone’s favorite “Lez Girls” could be returning to the small screen. According to Variety, Showtime is developing a sequel to the “The L Word,” the Ilene Chaiken-created drama series about a close group of lesbians living in Los Angeles. Should the project get the official go-ahead, it would focus on a new group of characters and their relationships. However, original “L Word” stars Jennifer Beals, Kate Moennig, and Leisha Hailey — who portrayed core characters Bette, Shane, and Alice, respectively — would executive produce the new series.
Beals, Moennig, and Hailey would also turn up in the sequel series as their original characters “as a point of connection from the prior series to the new one,” Variety notes. “Other characters from the original series may also appear in the new version.” No word on whether Laurel Holloman — one half of the iconic will they/won’t they couple Bette and Tina — is involved.
Chaiken is expected to serve as EP on the “L Word” sequel while maintaining her current role as showrunner of Fox’s “Empire.”She recently inked a new deal with 20th Century Fox Television, one that will see her develop new projects for the studio in addition to her showrunning duties. It was reportedly Chaiken who came up with the idea for the sequel.
“The L Word” aired on Showtime from 2004 to 2009. It is rumored to be partially based on Chaiken’s own experiences as a lesbian discovering herself in LA. Over the course of its six seasons, the series explored LGBTQ themes like coming out, bisexuality, transitioning, and being a lesbian in an institution that doesn’t accept you, like the military. “The L Word” also featured universal storylines that felt revolutionary because they were finally presented from a gay woman’s perspective: cancer diagnoses, professional ups and downs, breakups, family conflict, and grief.
While the show received criticism for its narrow portrayal of lesbianism — most of the original characters were femme, privileged, and white — and drew mockery for its soapiness, it set a precedent for depictions of gender identities, feminism, and intersectionality on television. If you enjoy series like “Orange Is the New Black” and “Transparent,” you can thank Chaiken and “The L Word” for blazing that trail.
