‘ER’ Boss John Wells on What It Would Take for a Reboot or Revival

Meredith Jacobs June 21, 2019, 4:30 pm

ER cast — Sven Arnstein/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Considering the popularity of reboots and revivals these days, is it possible that another hit NBC series like ER might come back just like Will & Grace?

Unfortunately, it sounds like fans shouldn’t plan on it. “We made an awful lot of ERs, 331 episodes,” executive producer John Wells told Deadline about a possible reboot or revival. “That’s a lot of hours, so I can’t imagine that we would, but if somebody came in with a really interesting idea about how to do it, we might.”

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Noah Wyle, who played John Carter for 13 seasons, pointed out why a revival wouldn’t be a good idea. “It’ll never happen,” he previously told TV Insider. “John Wells would never have it. [Not doing a revival] protects the integrity of the show.”

And if there were to be a revival, it would look quite different. After all, it’s been 10 years since the series went off the air. George Clooney, who played Doug Ross, joked to The Hollywood Reporter in February he’d “play a patient now.”

While Gloria Reuben (Jeanie Boulet), said to Us Weekly that they’ve “all kind of moved on” in 2017, Sherry Stringfield wasn’t completely against the idea of a revival in 2018.

“If it really was the same ER,” the actress who played Susan Lewis, told E! News. “Wow, that would be interesting … I love it.”

'ER': Where Are They Now? (PHOTOS)

ER ran for 15 seasons on NBC, from 1994 to 2009, and until Grey’s Anatomy‘s February 28 episode, it was the longest-running primetime medical drama. With a revival unlikely (at least for now), at least you can watch every episode on Hulu.

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CyanTag
Nov 8, 2021
It could be done. It would make more sense a couple years ago but dates can be fudged a bit and say it's 9 or 10 years later. Banfield as chief of staff. Morris as ER chief and married with a couple young kids with that cop. Gates and Sam married - Him a senior Attending and her chief nurse. The kids would be grown up and gone. If Bassett didn't want to come back then up Morris and Gates a notch respectively. Rachel Greene would be chief resident (allusion to Mark in the first season) Chaz up for attending. And you can split some time between the ER and the HIV center which means...You can bring back Carter now and again who sits on the board. Jeannie could be there as a senior administrator since she's pretty involved with all that stuff. Maybe move Brenner over there as one of the tops Docs. Split some of the old nurses between the 2, those that aren't retired. I found the group of interns in season 15 to be interesting as a group, if any of them agreed to do it, split them up between the two facilities. Jerry could still be one of the clerks. If Stringfield was interested in coming back I think she would fit better over with Carter and his foundation. This leaves room for newer characters at both places. Of course have old cast pop in now and then to visit, it's a stretch but Ray and Neela could come back, Ray working with rehab at Carters and Neela chief surgeon at either. And with 2 facilities there is potential for drama between the 2.

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