“One of Nickelodeon’s most successful teen series, ‘Zoey 101′, is making a comeback. The show, which aired for four seasons from 2005 to 2008, gained a dedicated fanbase. In 2015, a short was released to commemorate the 10th anniversary, which ended with a cliffhanger, leaving room for a potential return. Fans’ wishes have been granted as a reboot, tentatively titled ‘Zoey 102’, is officially in the works. The feature-length film will follow the original characters as adults, reuniting for a wedding. Production has started in North Carolina, and the premiere is set for this year exclusively on Paramount+.”
Spears is excited to return to her role as Zoey and be a part of continuing the series’ legacy. She said, “I’m beyond thrilled to be back alongside my PCA family and continue the story of Zoey and all the characters fans know and love. As an executive producer, it’s been an exciting opportunity to work with such incredible talent as well as Paramount+ and Nickelodeon.” She is not only reprising her role as Zoey Brooks but is also taking on the role of executive producer. Many original cast members are returning to their roles including Sean Flynn as Chase Matthews, Christopher Massey as Michael Barret, Erin Sanders as Quinn Pensky, Matthew Underwood as Logan Reese, Abby Wilde as Stacey Dillsen, and Jack Salvatore as Mark Del Figgalo. However, there’s no confirmation on the return of Victoria Justice or Austin Butler for the movie sequel. Alexa Nikolas, who played Zoey’s best friend Nicole Bristow in seasons 1 and 2, has also not been confirmed for the Zoey 101 reunion. Given her history with her castmates and her absence from past cast reunions, Nikolas’s return is unlikely. Nancy Hower is the director for Zoey 102. The script is written by All That’s (2019) writers Monica Sherer & Madeline Whitby. Spears executive produces alongside Hower, Sherer, Whitby, and Alexis Fisher. Nickelodeon Studios is overseeing the production of the upcoming feature.”
Speculation about a ‘Zoey 101’ Revival Has Persisted for Years
For years, fans have been clamoring for a continuation of the popular series ‘Zoey 101’, which ended abruptly after its fourth season. While the finale provided closure, viewers were disappointed that the show ended so soon. Nickelodeon’s 10th anniversary short in 2015 sparked renewed interest in a revival, and since then, there have been several hints and teasers about a possible follow-up. The principal cast reunited for an episode of ‘All That’ in 2019 and made appearances in Jamie Lynn Spears’ music video ‘Follow Me’ featuring Chantel Jeffries the following year. Spears, who is set to reprise her role as Zoey Brooks and also serve as an executive producer, has mentioned that discussions with Nickelodeon are in the early stages and that the main focus is finding the right home for the reboot. Paramount+ is a likely fit given that it already hosts a number of Nickelodeon programs, including ‘Spongebob Squarepants’ and the ‘iCarly’ reboot. While the upcoming feature will be appropriate for young adults, fans can expect a more mature tone in the sequel. As Spears stated, “we want to tell stories about where the characters are now, connect with the fans, and touch on topics that are impacting millennials.