The ’90s were largely defined by their prevalence of incredible cartoons. Many who grew up in the decade hold these shows in the highest regard, largely supported by nostalgia. These titans of the cartoon industry largely remain in their era of origin, but current trends could change that completely.
In the modern media era, it can be just as profitable to reboot popular franchises then to create new ones. This practice has seen increased circulation within films, as it slowly bleeds over to television. According to The Direct, the beloved cartoon “Hey Arnold!” will be the next series to receive the revival treatment. During an interview with the popular publication writer Joe Purdy confirmed that talks are at least in the works with Paramount.
Paramount Is in Talks to Reboot ‘Hey Arnold!’
Of all the ’90s cartoons, “Hey Arnold!” is one of the most beloved. It features an interesting lead among a variety of engaging castmates. The series designs are still widely recognized today, supporting the desire for a reboot. The cartoon even featured a film release nearly a decade after the show stopped airing, yet the movie was a massive success.
The fact that Purdy, the original writer, is the one to confirm the Paramount talks is incredibly refreshing. It indicates that most of the original staff would maintain their roles for the reboot, a great way to ensure the core feeling stays the same between projects. “X-Men ’97” found success by emulating that same practice. If the “Hey Arnold!” reboot maintains the original formula with slight modernizations, there’s no chance it will fail.
There’s always a chance showrunners could go a new direction for the revival. Many cartoon reboots choose to age-up their characters or place them in different environments. Arnold is what people care about most, but fans aren’t likely to be supportive if major characters or locations are completely changed. Although, the show is currently only in the talking stages.
The Reboot Could Set the Precedent For Television’s Future
If successful, the “Hey Arnold!” reboot could set the precedent for television’s future. If remakes and reboots continue to be successful, it wouldn’t make financial sense to make room for new ideas. Nostalgia is a powerful feelings, but it can only carry a show so far. Even reboots need a creative direction to keep audiences engaged. After all, most ’90s kids aren’t at the cartoon watching age anymore.
There have been other cartoon reboots, but their success is largely based on the popularity of the original project. In that regard, “Hey Arnold!” has nothing to worry about. However, the show will likely have to make at least some fans to entertain moder children. Thus, the idea enters a slippery slope of trying to appease older fans while trying to appeal to modern audiences. With this tightrope in mind it becomes clear why even a popular reboot might struggle to get past “the talking phase.”
At the end of the day, a “Hey Arnold!” reboot has a lot of potential. Although, the show will undoubtedly struggle to ride the waves of nostalgia while trying to entertain new fans. A lot of reboots fail relatively early in their career, but there’s no denying that “Hey Arnold!” has actual prospects to make things work.
