Is a 'Weeds' Reboot Still in the Works?
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Grab your iced coffee and don't forget the straw, because a Weeds reboot is possibly, maybe, hopefully in the works! The original series, created by Jenji Kohan (Orange Is the New Black), aired on Showtime from 2005 to 2012 and starred Mary-Louise Parker as a suburban mom who starts selling marijuana to make ends meet following the unexpected death of her husband.
With reports of a reboot circulating, here's everything we know so far about the potential return of Nancy Botwin.
Is there a Weeds reboot in the works?
A Weeds reboot is not in production, but it's seemingly on the table at Starz. In January 2020, network CEO Jeffrey Hirsch told attendees of the TCA winter tour, "Weeds is in development and I’m pretty excited about Lionsgate putting together a great package. Mary is obviously a great actor. The world of cannabis has changed significantly so there’s a ton of story to be told so we’re excited to see what Lionsgate comes up with for that show."
After that, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer announced the series in a statement, calling it Weeds 4.20. "We're thrilled to be back in business with series star and executive producer Mary-Louise Parker on what we're calling 'Weeds 4.20,' already in active development at Starz, as we prepare a comprehensive and integrated rollout for one of television's most beloved properties."
Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic put those plans on an indefinite hold. But speculation was at an all-time high again in May 2023 after Deadline reported that Parker was attached to a Weeds-related project.
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How did the original Weeds end?
The series ended after Season 8, with the finale jumping several years into the future. Nancy (Parker) and her oldest son, Silas (Hunter Parrish), were running a highly successful (and legal) chain of marijuana shops called Puff Dragons. Meantime, her younger son, Shane (Alexander Gould), had become a cop and her brother, Andy (Justin Kirk), had become a father.
What's the Weeds reboot about?
When reports of a reboot first surfaced, the logline, per Variety, was: “The new show picks up with the Botwin family 10 years after the events of the original series in an era of legalization." That's not a ton of information to work with, but it does indicate that the intention was to bring back the Botwins.
Is Mary-Louise Parker in the Weeds reboot?
You can't have a Weeds reboot without Mary-Louise Parker, and indeed any talks to bring the show back have included the star's participation.
In June 2023, Parker told MovieWeb, "I mean, I wish I knew one way or the other if it was happening. I think it would have to be reinvented because, you know, I'm so much older now. I feel like there's certain things that just don't play in the same way, and I don't know if they would have the same currency."
She continued, "But maybe the people, you know, those characters getting together, maybe there's a way to make that work, and I would certainly love to see those actors again. I would like to, but those kinds of things can fall apart at any moment."
In a separate interview with The Guardian the same month, Parker seemed more hopeful. "Every time I ask, it seems to be closer," she said. "But because of the strike, we don’t know. And it can fall apart at any time." (Although the WGA writers' strike has ended, the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike is still ongoing.)
Related: Mary-Louise Parker Makes Rare Comment on Ex Billy Crudup's Marriage to Naomi Watts
Is Jenji Kohan writing the Weeds reboot?
Jenji Kohan is not involved in the reboot, at least not in any way that has been reported.
Who is cast in the Weeds reboot?
There have been no cast announcements for the Weeds reboot as the show is not officially a go, but if the originally-floated logline holds true, it seems to suggest that the Botwin family would be back, including:
Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy
Hunter Parrish as Silas
Alexander Gould as Shane
Justin Kirk as Andy
That said, Kirk has suggested to Variety that he isn't totally sold on the idea of a reboot. "Even as a fan, do you really want to see us all old and coming back? By the time of Season 8, I don’t think the general idea was, ‘We should keep doing this!'"
"Look, I love those people, I love that character. I probably know as much as you do about any future reboots," he concluded.
One OG cast member who's up for a reboot? Elizabeth Perkins, who told Variety that she'd "be on board" a reboot. "I loved working with Mary-Louise Parker. I love those two characters together, Nancy and Celia!"
What is the release date for the Weeds reboot?
There is no release date for the potential Weeds reboot at this time. Watch this space!
