According to Deadline, HBO Max has announced that the new iteration of the popular teen drama series, Gossip Girl, will not be continuing for third season. The series, which was developed by Joshua Safran (Quantico, Smash) and based on the bestselling novels by Cecily von Ziegesar (The It Girl, I Like It Like That), had a strong start when it premiered in July 2021, becoming HBO Max’s most-watched opening weekend for an original series at the time. Despite the early success, the show was not able to capture the same level of interest and enthusiasm as the original CW series that aired from 2007-2012.
In a statement via Deadline, HBO Max said, “Although we are not moving forward with a third season of Gossip Girl, we thank [showrunner Joshua Safran, and executive producers Stephanie Savage (Runaways, Nancy Drew) and Josh Schwartz (Looking for Alaska, Fun Size] for the enticing love triangles, calculated backstabbing, and impeccable fashion this series brought to a new audience.”
Safran, who also worked on the original CW series, expressed his disappointment in a message to fans, saying “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce Gossip Girl will not be continuing on HBO Max.” He went on to thank fans for their support and hinted that this may not be the end for the Gossip Girl franchise, writing “who knows, maybe the reason we will meet again,” per Deadline.
The cancellation of the series is not believed to be a financial decision, but rather a result of the show not breaking out in the same way as HBO Max’s other young adult series, Pretty Little Liars. The new Gossip Girl followed a new generation of New York private school teens as they were introduced to the social surveillance of Gossip Girl, exploring how social media and the city of New York have changed in the years since the original series. Despite the cancellation, the reboot did receive a GLAAD award nomination for its diverse cast and queer stories.