The 'Roseanne' Spin-Off Is Officially Happening Without Roseanne Barr
The reboot of Roseanne was abruptly cancelled after the star tweeted racist comments, but after weeks of discussions, the network has found a way to continue the show without Roseanne Barr.
Reports of the negotiations started becoming public a few days ago, but now the network has officially confirmed that they will be going ahead with a spinoff of the show.
The spinoff of the revival will be called The Conners and will feature all of the returning cast members EXCEPT for Roseanne Barr.
This means that John Goodman (Dan), Laurie Metcalf (Jackie), Sara Gilbert (Darlene), Lecy Goranson (Becky), and Michael Fishman (D.J.) will all return to Lanford, to continue the show without the matriarch of the family.
The official logline that was release for the show is similar to the original premise of the show, but it makes sure to leave out any mention of the disgraced star.
“After a sudden turn of events, the Conners are forced to face the daily struggles of life in Lanford in a way they never have before.
"This iconic family – Dan, Jackie, Darlene, Becky and D.J. – grapples with parenthood, dating, an unexpected pregnancy, financial pressures, aging, and in-laws in working-class America.
"Through it all, the fights, the coupon cutting, the hand-me-downs, the breakdowns – with love, humor and perseverance, the family prevails.”
What they have yet to explain is how they plan to get rid of the character of Roseanne. While it as been made clear that Barr had to be paid off for the rights to character, they haven't said how they will write her out of the show.
Barr was the creator of the original series so people were worried she would continue to benefit financially from this spinoff, however she has been given a one-time settlement to buy her out. She released a statement to address this.
“I regret the circumstances that have caused me to be removed from Roseanne. I agreed to the settlement in order that 200 jobs of beloved cast and crew could be saved, and I wish the best for everyone involved.”
Executive producer Tom Werner is excited to get back to work, with his statement saying, “We are grateful to have reached this agreement to keep our team working as we continue to explore stories of the Conner family.”
ABC's statement released alongside the announcement highlights the fact that that the issues they talk about in the show are "as relevant today as they were 30 years ago."
The cast of the show released a joint statement, expressing their excitement for the opportunity to continue telling these stories.
“We have received a tremendous amount of support from fans of our show, and it’s clear that these characters not only have a place in our hearts, but in the hearts and homes of our audience.
“We all came back last season because we wanted to tell stories about the challenges facing a working-class family today. We are so happy to have the opportunity to return with the cast and crew to continue to share those stories through love and laughter.”
Will you be tuning in for this spinoff of a revival? Or are you ready to give up on 'Roseanne' once and for all?
For more details on the cancellation of the revival, you can find out more here.
Source - Entertainment Weekly