‘Degrassi’ not canceled, after all; Netflix, Family Channel pick up ‘Degrassi: Next Class’

For all of you who were lamenting the loss of “Degrassi” earlier this week, we come bearing some good news: The show did not exactly stay off the air for a particularly long time. The show, following its end on TeenNick, is now going to be moving over to Netflix / Family Channel in Canada for a 20-episode season entitled “Degrassi: Next Class.” Per Entertainment Weekly, many of the same actors and characters will return, and the show will be about the same sort of thing in dealing with issues that many young people are going through today.

Specifically the characters / actors who are returning are Amanda Arcuri as Lola Pacini; Reiya Downs as Shay Powers; Ana Golja as Zoe Rivas; Nikki Gould as Grace Cardinal; Ricardo Hoyos as Zig Novak; Ehren Kassam as Jonah Haak; Andre Kim as Winston Chu; Lyle Lettau as Tristan Milligan; Spencer Macpherson as Hunter Hollingsworth; Eric Osborne as Miles Hollingsworth III; Olivia Scriven as Maya Matlin; Sara Waisglass as Frankie Hollingsworth; and Richard Walters as Deon “Tiny” Bell. Sound exciting? If you enjoy the series, we imagine that it most likely is; “Degrassi” has been around in one form or another for decades, and some recent stars to come out of it include rapper Drake and actress Nina Dobrev.

In a statement, show co-creator and executive producer Linda Schuyler had the following to say:

“We are energized and excited to work with Family Channel as we tell stories for the new post-millennial teen cohort known as Generation Z, most of whom weren’t even born when Degrassi returned in 2001.”

We will have some more news on the show’s return to air in the near future, but for anyone who loves this format of television and who loves the teen drama’s history, this has to be a cause for celebration.

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