Degrassi: Next Class to debut on Family Channel, Netflix
MTV Canada, TeenNick announced last week they wouldn't continue Degrassi: The Next Generation
The kids of Degrassi will have to go back to school in the fall after all. The decades-old franchise has found a new home on Family Channel and Netflix after being cancelled by MTV Canada and TeenNick last week.
The new show, Degrassi: Next Class, will debut on Family Channel in January 2016, DHX Media announced Tuesday. It will start streaming on Netflix in early 2016, except for the online service in Canada, Australia and France.
Netflix Canada will stream the newest Degrassi spinoff after its run on Family Channel, Jamie Basset, DHX Television's director of communications said.
Degrassi: The Next Class will have 20 half-hour episodes in its first season.
"We are looking forward to reaching a fresh new audience with Degrassi: Next Class," executive producer Linda Schuyler said in a statement. "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."
Degrassi: The Next Generation debuted in 2001 and has been running for 14 seasons. It was a spinoff of the 1980s and 90s shows Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High.
Degrassi: The Next Generation continues the second half of its fourteenth season on July 20 on MTV Canada. The channel will run 12 half-hour episodes over two weeks.
Some old cast will reprise roles
Some of the series' cast members will graduate out of the show during the remainder of that season, Basset said.
Some of the actors will reprise their roles in Degrassi: Next Class, including many of the show's younger characters. DHX confirmed the returning cast includes:
- 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.
- Richard Walters as Deon Tiny Bell.
Some new actors will join the cast for Degrassi: Next Class as well, said Basset. But no new casting choices have been confirmed.
Filming to continue in Toronto
Degrassi is a fictional drama set in Toronto. It follows a group of students as they face real-life challenges. The show received critical acclaim for tackling tough teen issues such as sex, date rape, homosexuality, drugs and teen pregnancy.
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It has propelled a number of stars to fame, including Drake, The Vampire Diaries' Nina Dobrev and former 90210 actor Shanae Grimes-Beech.
The series has been nominated for three Emmy Awards, and has won 19 Gemini Awards, 10 Canadian Screen Awards, a Television Critics Association Award, the Peabody Award and two Teen Choice Awards.
DHX Media owns the distribution rights to Degrassi, which will continue to film in Toronto.