HBO has greenlit a five-episode limited revival of the comedy-drama series “Girls,” bringing creator Lena Dunham back together with key cast members nearly a decade after the show concluded, the network announced Tuesday.
Dunham will reprise her lead role as aspiring writer Hannah Horvath, alongside returning co-stars Allison Williams as Marnie Michaels, Jemima Kirke as Jessa Johansson, and Zosia Mamet as Shoshanna Shapiro. Andrew Rannells is also set to return as Elijah Krantz. Filming for the limited series is scheduled to launch in 2027, according to reporting from IndieWire and ComingSoon.net.
Revisiting the characters at 40
The original series, which aired for six seasons from 2012 to 2017, followed four young women confronting romance, work, and friendship in New York City in their 20s. Over its run, the program earned 19 Emmy Award nominations and picked up two wins, including outstanding casting for a comedy series.
The continuation shifts the group’s focus from early adulthood to middle age. Dunham explained that the inspiration struck as she approached a personal milestone. “We always said we would only return to ‘Girls’ if there was a specific story we were burning to tell,” Dunham said in an official statement released by HBO. She added that around her 40th birthday, the characters began resurfacing in her mind after years of being unable to visualize them in the modern day.
Amy Gravitt, executive vice president of HBO programming, praised the new direction for the franchise. In a statement reported by BBC News, Gravitt noted that the network is delighted to have Dunham focus on the milestone of turning 40 after previously examining the instability of young adulthood.
Behind the camera, Dunham will executive produce the new episodes alongside longtime collaborator Judd Apatow, Ilene S. Landress, and Michael P. Cohen. Williams, Kirke, Mamet, and Rannells have all signed on as co-executive producers.
Driver and Konner missing from announcement
Despite the core ensemble’s reunion, several high-profile figures from the original run were conspicuously absent from the network’s announcement. Most notably, actor Adam Driver was not included on the cast list. Driver portrayed Adam Sackler, Hannah’s volatile on-and-off romantic partner, in a breakout role that helped launch his film career.
His omission follows renewed scrutiny over his working relationship with Dunham. In her bestselling 2026 memoir—titled “Famesick” according to BBC News and ComingSoon.net, and “Famestruck” according to IndieWire—Dunham alleged that Driver exhibited verbally aggressive and physically intimidating behavior during production, including an incident where he allegedly hurled a chair at a wall on set. Driver declined to comment regarding the assertions at the Cannes Film Festival, ComingSoon.net reported, while BBC News noted he has not publicly addressed the allegations.
Also absent from HBO’s official announcement is Jenni Konner, who served as co-showrunner and executive producer during the original broadcast. Dunham’s book detailed an end to both their professional collaboration and personal friendship, which dissolved in 2018 during work on the comedy series “Camping.”
What lies ahead
Specific narrative details for the five episodes remain closely guarded. An official title for the limited series has not yet been determined, though Dunham joked during a video call with her fellow cast members about whether the original moniker still applied now that the ensemble is older, BBC News reported.
Production is set to commence next year. While HBO has not formally announced an air date, entertainment outlet Collider reported that the revival will likely debut for viewers in 2028.
