Listen up, marshmallows! It’s time to take out your dusty ol’ detective gear because Veronica Mars will soon be sleuthing again in the Veronica Mars revival! That’s right – the eponymous 2014 film was not (thankfully!) to be the last we saw of her. Veronica Mars – and her loyal, marshmallow-y fans – just keep coming back for more!
When the original series was canceled back in 2007, it came as a huge shock. Though it had millions of fans and was even critically-acclaimed, the show was low-rated and had to be axed by the CW. It took seven years of appeals from fans until finally, a jaw-dropping Kickstarter campaign led by the show’s creator Rob Thomas and lead Kristen Bell and backed by these same fans managed to raise millions of dollars to fund the show’s foray onto the big screen.
After the film release that saw Veronica Mars head back to Neptune to help Logan beat a murder charge. And the short-lived CW Seed web series Play It Again, Dick that starred Ryan Hansen and showed Hansen trying to make a Dick Casablancas-centric TV show there was silence once again. And nobody knew whether there would be any kind of sequel – movie, series or other.
But prayers were answered once again in September 2018 when Hulu announced that it would be releasing a brand new eight-episode long season of Veronica Mars! And we couldn’t be more excited! So we’ve decided to share everything we know about the upcoming Veronica Mars revival!
What does Hulu have to say about it?
The most burning question on everyone’s minds is probably when. Everyone wants to know how long they have to wait until they can see Veronica Mars in action once again. Well, it’s now just a matter of weeks! The revival will be available to stream on Hulu on July 26, 2019. And that’s not even all! Whether you’ve been a fan of the series from the start or you’ve just now decided to join the club, Hulu’s got you covered. All three original seasons and the feature film have been made available on the platform in the run-up to the revival’s release.
Now, is this really going to be the last season to formally close out the show? Hulu says that that’s still up in the air. According to TheWrap, Craig Erwich, Hulu’s Senior Vice President of Originals, said they would be “totally open to [another season]” if the creative team comes together for it and “should people like it as much as we like it”. And luckily, considering how many fans have rallied behind the show previously, that’s definitely a huge possibility!
Who’s behind the Veronica Mars revival?
This Veronica Mars revival wasn’t borne from a Kickstarter campaign, unlike its movie predecessor from 5 years ago. Instead, it stems from the creativity and passion of the show’s writer and creator, Rob Thomas.
At the Television Critics Association winter press tour, TV Guide reported Erwich told the press that Thomas came into their office and “explained very passionately about why he wanted to do this, how he was going to do this.” Since the movie’s release 5 years ago, Thomas has also released two Veronica Mars novels, showing his true passion to continue with the story of the series.
Naturally, he is the writer behind the revival’s first episode and is also an executive producer alongside Kristen Bell herself. Joining them in the creative team are show vets Diane Ruggiero-Wright and Dan Etheridge. New to the writing team this season is – wait for it – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Yup, the legendary basketball player is also an extremely talented writer, and we can’t wait to see what he adds to the show!
What’s the story?
Fans who are hoping for the nostalgia of the movie and original series are in for a bit of a surprise. While both Bell and Thomas have said that it is reminiscent of the previous seasons with the setting back in Neptune, Bell has also mentioned that it will be a much “darker” world. While Thomas even described the season as “hardcore So-Cal noir” on Twitter.
I will say this: the movie was nostalgic. The Hulu limited series isn’t going to be. Hardcore So-Cal noir. One big case. Eight episodes to tell the story. This is a detective show.
— Rob Thomas (@RobThomas) September 20, 2018
We know that it’s set 5 years after the movie. And that it dwells on the recurring themes of class warfare – the gap between the society’s haves and have-nots. Hulu outlines the story with this plotline: “Spring breakers are getting murdered in Neptune, thereby decimating the seaside town’s lifeblood tourist industry. After Mars Investigations is hired by the parents of one of the victims to find their son’s killer, Veronica is drawn into an epic eight-episode mystery that pits the enclave’s wealthy elites, who would rather put an end to the month-long bacchanalia, against a working class that relies on the cash influx that comes with being the West Coast’s answer to Daytona Beach.”
So yes, this case spans over the eight episodes of the revival. And we can look forward to seeing a very grown-up Veronica Mars dealing with contemporary issues in a contemporary world. Though the plot may seem familiar to Thomas’ Mars novel, “The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line”, he assures fans that it’s “not the story we’re telling”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt0QuaQ0huk
Who are we seeing – and not seeing?
Apart from Bell, fans can expect to see a lot of familiar faces starting with Keith Mars played by Enrico Colantoni. Other returning cast members are Percy Daggs III (Wallace Fennel), Francis Capra (“Weevil” Navarro), Ryan Hansen (Dick Casablancas), David Starzyk (Richard Casablancas), Daran Norris (Cliff McCormack), Ken Marino (Vinnie Van Lowe), and Max Greenfield (Leo D’Amato).
LoVe fans will also be ecstatic to see Jason Dohring reprising his role as Logan, Veronica’s long-time love interest. In fact, Dohring promises fans that they’re in for a ride as the pair now live together and have both been through many things – both together and apart. Their relationship takes a different dynamic and we can’t wait to see how it all plays out!
Sadly, Digital Spy recently reported that one character we won’t be seeing in the revival is Veronica’s tech-savvy friend, Mac, played by Tina Majorino who already had prior commitments.
Any new faces?
Absolutely! We’ll be seeing Patton Oswalt as a true crime fanatic and pizza delivery guy, and J.K. Simmons as an ex-con and “friend” of Richard Casablancas. Bell’s The Good Place co-star Kirby Howell-Baptiste will also appear on the show as the owner of the nightclub the killer seems to be picking his victims from. Izabela Vidovic will play a young teenager reminiscent of a younger Mars herself. And Clifton Collins Jr. will also be appearing in a recurring role.
Do we know anything else about Veronica Mars season 4?
We sure do. Hulu has shared the titles and synopsis for the first four of the eight new Veronica Mars episodes that will be coming to Hulu on July 26th. The first episode is titled “Spring Break Forever” and will see a bomb going off during a spring break celebration. And subsequently, one of the bombing victim’s wealthy parents hiring Mars Investigations to find out who behind the bombing.
The second episode, titled “Chino and the Man”, will showcase Veronica and Keith starting their investigation. The third episode, “Keep Calm and Party On”, will see the investigation heating up and then getting flipped on its head entirely. While the fourth episode, “Heads You Lose”, will see Veronica pursuing the real bomber and FBI getting involved.
And TVLine also recently shared a ton of photos from the first four episodes of Veronica Mars season 4. Which you can check out in the article below.
Veronica Mars : Hulu Revival Photos
Veronica Mars First Look: Old Friends, Foes and an Ex Return for the Hulu Revival.
So there you have it, marshmallows! Now that you’ve got the low-down on what to expect, you can start crossing off the dates on your calendar until July 26. In the meantime, get on Hulu and binge-watch the original series and movie to hype yourself up for the Veronica Mars revival!