Unfortunately for fans of the Emmy award-winning Cheers spin-off sitcom, Frasier, beloved character Niles Crane, played by David Hyde Pierce (Julia, Wet Hot American Summer), will not be returning for the series’ upcoming reboot on Paramount+. Kelsey Grammer (Cheers, The Simpsons), who portrayed the titular character of Frasier Crane explained in an interview with People that “David basically decided he wasn’t really interested in repeating the performance of Niles.”
Although Grammer was initially dismayed upon hearing that Hyde Pierce would not be returning for the series revival, he now believes that the unexpected casting development will actually work out for everyone. In the same interview with People, Grammer elaborated: “in a very funny way, it just took us to a new place, which was what we originally wanted to do anyway, which was a Fraser third act, it’s an entirely new life for him.”
According to TVLine, Hyde Pierce isn’t the only member of Frasier‘s original cast who will not be returning for the reboot. Earlier this year, both Jane Leeves (Hot in Cleveland, The Resident) and Peri Gilpin (Spring Forward, We Broke Up) who portrayed the characters of Daphne Moon and Roz Doyle respectively, also confirmed that they would not be coming back for the new series. TVLine further reports that the absence of these fan-favorite characters will be explained throughout the course of the show.
The revival series, which was ordered by Paramount+ back in October, will focus on Frasier starting over in a new city with a brand new cast of characters. Grammer will both star in the upcoming reboot and serve as executive producer alongside Chris Harris (How I Met Your Mother, Late Show with David Letterman) and Joe Cristalli (Life in Pieces, Maggie). Harris and Cristalli will also be writing the script for the show, which will reportedly have ten episodes in its first season.