'Gossip Girl' Reboot: 5 stark differences between The CW original and new HBO show
Gossip check, glamor check, prep schools Constance Billard and St Jude’s check. Yes, there’s no doubt that there are plenty of things that the original 'Gossip Girl' and the reboot have in common including being voiced by Kristen Bell who was the voice of 'Gossip Girl' in the original.
But there are a whole plethora of differences between the two shows. While perhaps the biggest difference for some fans will be that Blake Lively and Leighton Meester will not at this moment at least be reprising their roles as Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf, there are many other changes to be expected from the reboot. So what are the five starkest differences between the original 'Gossip Girl' and the reboot? Let's have a look.
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1. Diversity
The original 'Gossip Girl' starred an all-White cast. However, the reboot stars mainly non-White actors, and will also focus largely on representing all shades of sexuality on the show. According to showrunner Joshua Safran, when asked what he was most proud of in the reboot he said that the majority of characters are diverse and/or queer. Joshua Safran who was part of the original 'Gossip Girl' team says, "I was like, You know what, I'd like to do some things we were unable to do the first time around. And that's what kept me up at night -- a more inclusive show, a more queer show, looking at how social media has changed in the 12 years since the original Gossip Girl-and then I couldn't get that out of my head."
2. No privilege porn
The cast of the original 'Gossip Girl' may have flaunted their wealth and privilege without reservation. But on the reboot, the characters wrestle with their privilege. Joshua Safran in an interview with Variety says, "These kids wrestle with their privilege in a way I think the original didn't. In light of [Black Lives Matter], in light of a lot of things, even going back to Occupy Wall Street, things have shifted." Apparently, the characters on the reboot are well aware of income inequality and don't restrict themselves to limos but are open to taking Ubers and just hopping on a skateboard to get from point A to B as well like Aki Menzies on the show.
3. The identity of 'Gossip Girl'
'Gossip Girl' has gone from being just a blogger to a more all-encompassing social media platform on the reboot. The executive producer of the 'Gossip Girl' reboot Josh Schwartz who was also part of the original 'Gossip Girl' team in an interview to E! News says that the show will also be highlighting, "This idea that we are all Gossip Girl now, in our own way, that we are all purveyors of our own social media surveillance state."
4. Slouchy vs Stylish
We certainly cannot talk about 'Gossip Girl' without touching on the fashion and it seems that the style statements made by the original cast and the ones made by the cast of the reboot couldn't be more different. Stilletos have been traded in for sneakers, hats for hoodies and all around the style statement on the reboot seems to be a brand of slouchy streetwear cool with oversize sweaters over tiny bicycle shorts and perpetually loosened ties.
5.Social media influence
We have to remember that the original 'Gossip Girl' took place before Instagram and in the time of Blackberrys. This is why the original 'Gossip Girl' was so influential, because, without the presence of social media, the show was able to set trends by giving fans a glimpse into what the rich kids in New York were wearing. However, with everything cool and fashionable now already on Instagram, it seems unlikely that the reboot will have the same kind of influence on style statements.
To find out what other differences exist between the original 'Gossip Girl' and the reboot and to see which one you prefer you can catch the reboot of 'Gossip Girl' which premieres on July 8 on HBO Max. Catch a sneak peek below: