It’s been almost 20 years (or 5 presidential elections) since Josiah Bartlet left the fictional White Home of The West Wing. But, with the collection as rewatchable as ever for these with an HBO Max subscription, there’s no scarcity of requires a revival. Govt producer John Wells stated it’s one thing he and creator Aaron Sorkin have mentioned over time, however he admitted to being “frightened” about rebooting the political drama in the present day.
The West Wing is the sort of present that makes you are feeling slightly higher concerning the world, even in case you simply have it on within the background whereas folding laundry. So there’s no thriller why followers are craving extra from that idealized universe. It doesn’t assist that solid members like Joshua Malina continually tease reunion talks, or that Richard Schiff pitched an concept that Sorkin apparently beloved. The famed screenwriter himself has even teased concepts for brand spanking new episodes. Nevertheless, in in the present day’s politically unstable local weather, John Wells has reservations, telling THR:
Aaron and I’ve talked about it a lot of instances. My fear — and by no means say by no means — has all the time been that when the present existed, it was not perceived as one-sided. It was clearly liberal, nevertheless it wasn’t progressive. It was truly very centrist. What’s occurring now, that’s not the world through which it was written, so I’d be frightened that it will be perceived as an announcement.
There’s actually a problem in in the present day’s world to create something with “political” within the description with out alienating a big portion of potential viewers. Would a theoretical West Wing reboot be capable to keep away from making political statements? Would audiences infer them anyway? John Wells factors out that’s by no means what The American President-inspired collection was about, persevering with:
What the present was attempting to do is spotlight the sacrifice in public service, that these individuals are actually good, well-meaning folks, and I don’t assume anyone would allow us to try this on this polarized local weather.
The West Wing advanced from its authentic premise when Martin Sheen’s President Bartlet ended up being such a profound presence on the collection. The president was initially not meant to be a important character, with Aaron Sorkin eager to give attention to the day-to-day happenings of the White Home senior employees.
In fact, followers nonetheless received that, with Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, John Spencer and extra all the time attempting to place the nice of the American folks first, even after they fell quick. I’d like to assume one thing like that’s nonetheless doable. I imply, political dramas do nonetheless exist on the 2025 TV schedule.
May we not go to a world the place Sam Seaborn was president (assuming he’s been discovered since Rob Lowe’s “Lacking Individual” milk cartons went out)? Or, as Richard Schiff supposedly proposed years in the past, give attention to authorities exterior of the White Home, maybe on the state degree, the place OG characters may nonetheless pop in to seek the advice of?
It seems like there are positively methods to revisit the most effective reveals presently streaming on HBO Max, however I additionally assume John Wells has a fairly legitimate concern. I count on we’ll proceed to be teased with such a challenge for years to return. For now, although, it followers can see two of their favourite senior staffers reunite in a distinct fictional White Home.
Allison Janney performs Vice President Grace Penn on The Diplomat, and Bradley Whitford will be a part of the solid as her husband in Season 3 this fall. Hold your eye out for that 2025 Netflix premiere date, and within the meantime, go forward and rewatch your favourite episodes of The West Wing on HBO Max.