Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life: Everything we’ve heard about a possible season 2

After being off the air for nearly 10 years, and being missed every day during that time away, Gilmore Girls made a massive comeback on Netflix with its four-episode miniseries revival A Year in the Life in November 2016. That small return trip to Stars Hollow only left fans wanting more.

Even though the ending revelation was divisive, as was most of the storylines in each episode (most especially Rory’s, though we think she got a bad rap), that hasn’t quelled the desire for fans to catch back up with their favorite Gilmore girls and see what happens next.

Has there been any movement on a potential Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life season 2? Here’s everything the cast and creators have said recently about the possibility of returning to Stars Hollow. We’ll update this story as more information becomes available!

The latest update was made on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.

Lauren Graham says “not a formal discussion” for season 2

On Nov. 16, 2023, Lauren Graham made an appearance on CBS Mornings and spoke to Gayle King and Vladimir Duthiers about the paperback release of her 2022 book of essays Have I Told You This Already? and her ongoing book tour. During the conversation, Duthiers poses the constant and obvious question about whether there’s more Gilmore Girls on the horizon. Graham told the hosts the usual updates, ranging from “never say never” to “there is not a formal discussion.”

When asked by King if she wanted to return for another round of the beloved series, Graham gave an answer that pointed to “yes” without outright saying so and leading fans on to believe that something’s in the works. She explained that she loved playing Lorelai and the writing of the series, as well as the joy the show brings to fans new and old across generations.

Here’s the latest update Graham told the hosts:

"“You can never say never in this day and age, I guess. […] There is not a formal discussion of doing it again. There’s always that fear that you want to leave it, you know, where it is best left. But we didn’t know we would be coming back to do those Netflix movies, so you never really know. But there isn’t a formal conversation.”"

Watch Lauren Graham’s interview in the video below!

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life season 2 hasn’t been renewed

Netflix has not ordered a second season of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life at this time. Back in November 2016, the four-episode miniseries was intended to be just that: a miniseries. Although it was very popular upon release, no immediate renewal followed, as expected.

But as the years have passed and the slightly sour feelings some fans had toward the “final four words” have mellowed, the craving for another round of the miniseries has increased. While the ending was intended as a full-circle full stop, some have viewed it as a cliffhanger worth exploring.

In April 2017, Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel stated that there were “no immediate plans” to return for another season. Graham elaborated at the time, “I don’t know if there is a need to do more. I wouldn’t want it to feel like we overstayed our welcome.”

Amy Sherman-Palladino echoed those feelings in November 2018, telling Vanity Fair that the busy schedules of the leading cast members factor in when considering more Gilmore, as well as making another season for a purpose: “It would have to be the right story, and the right moment. A lot went into getting it together the first time.”

Again, the creator restated her thoughts on the obstacles (or lack thereof?) standing in their way of dipping back into Lorelai and Rory’s corner of the world. During the Woodstock Film Festival in October 2020, Sherman-Palladino said:

"“There’s no [obstacle] behind it except for lives and people doing [other] things. [A Year in the Life] was one of those kismet moments where we were kind of all looking at each other and going, ‘Well, let’s take a couple of months and hang out together and remind each other why we drove each other crazy.’ And it was a wonderful experience. I really do believe that if the time is right and the girls are where they need to be in their lives [it could happen].”"

Sherman-Palladino stressed that story and conflict isn’t an issue when it comes to crafting more iterations of Gilmore Girls. As long as Lorelai, Emily, and Rory are in each other’s lives, with the changes that have come their way, there will be stories to tell. But Graham and Bledel’s schedules have to be open for those stories to be told. Simply put, the stars have to align again.

The cast is open to returning for more Gilmore Girls

One of the most outspoken cast members about the potential of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life coming back for another season is none other than Lauren Graham.

In November 2022, Graham chatted with New Beauty about her new book and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. But the interviewed also provided us with one of the most promising updates on a second season of A Year in the Life yet. When asked if the series would come back, Graham said:

"“I’m making plans to see Amy [Sherman-Palladino], the creator of the show, in the next few weeks. It’s always a fun prospect to think about and talk about. It used to be more of just talk, but having done it now, we know it’s possible. I think I feel such a responsibility and so much love for the story that I would just want to be sure it was the right time.”"

Not for nothing, but we’d love to know what Graham and Sherman-Palladino talked about when they met up. With the fifth and final season of Sherman-Palladino’s Emmy-winning series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel arriving in April 2023, maybe we’ll receive an update on that meeting.

Additionally, other actors from the series such as Alexis Bledel, Kelly Bishop, Scott Patterson, Milo Ventimiglia, and Matt Czuchry have been asked and commented on the likelihood of coming back for another installment. Each have given different answers over the years, but they each hover around the same concept: They’re open to returning, but it would have to be the right story at the right time.

Lauren Graham keeps a Gilmore Girls clause in her contracts

Since the miniseries premiered on Netflix in 2016, Lauren Graham has kept plenty busy with roles in NBC’s Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Disney+’s The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. (Both series have both ended after two seasons each.) But for future roles, the actress negotiates windows of time to allow for her to step back into Lorelai’s shoes.

In March 2021, she revealed to SiriusXM that she has a Lorelai clause in all of her new contracts that keeps a window open should she need to return to her old stomping grounds at a moment’s notice. Graham said:

"“And it’s not — I don’t want to start any new rumors — it’s not for any concrete reason. “I have a loyalty and an openness to working with her, first of all. And because we could never have predicted [a revival] in the past. So that door is open. Is it creatively warranted? Is it, you know, something? I don’t know. But yes, technically yes.”"

Let’s hope Graham passed on that tip to her on-screen daughter Alexis Bledel!

Logan has been confirmed as the father of Rory’s baby

When Rory uttered those fateful words — “I’m pregnant” — to her mother in the final moments of A Year in the Life, fans have been theorizing who the father of her baby could be. Well, wonder no more! The identity of the father has been revealed: It’s Logan!

In March 2023, TV Line ran a report that a costume supervisor on the revival revealed on TikTok that the identity of the father comes down to both math and Sherman-Palladino stating that Logan being the father was supposed to be obvious. However, the creator responded with “no comment” to the TV Line report. Interesting!

Perhaps she’s attempting to keep the baby mystery alive a little bit longer should A Year in the Life ever get the green light to follow another year in the lives of Lorelai, Rory, and Emily Gilmore.

Sean Gunn criticized Netflix execs for lack of Gilmore Girls residuals

As of May 2023, the writers’ strike took full effect, and by July 2023, the Screen Actors Guild joined the writers on the picket line. On July 14, the first official day of the actors’ strike, The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Gilmore Girls star Sean Gunn, our beloved Kirk Gleason, on the picket line, and he explained why he’s striking on behalf of actors.

Watch Gunn’s impassioned explanation here:

Gunn points his protest directly at Netflix, where the series he starred in for seven seasons, Gilmore Girls, currently calls home for streaming. He also reprised his role for the Netflix miniseries revival A Year in the Life. While millions of fans constantly watch and rewatch the show on Netflix, the actors don’t reap the benefits of their work being streamed. Gunn explained:

"“I also particularly wanted to come out and protest Netflix. I was on a television show called Gilmore Girls for a long time that has brought in massive profits for Netflix. It has been one of their most popular shows for a very long time, over a decade. It gets streamed over and over and over again, and I see almost none of the revenue that comes into that. The CEOs of Netflix, Reed Hastings and Ted Sarandos, give each other bonuses in the 10s of millions dollars. Ted Sarandos made $40 million with the bonuses that they made with their corporate profits. I don’t understand why they can’t lessen those bonuses to share the wealth more with the people who have created the content that has gotten them rich. It really is a travesty. And if the answer is, ‘Well, this is just how business is done, this is just how corporate business works,’ that sucks. That makes you a bad person. And you really need to rethink how you do business and share the wealth with people, otherwise this is all going to come crashing down. I’m happy to be out here and we need a fair deal.”"

Clearly and rightfully, Gunn feels passionately about the executives at Netflix profiting off work they didn’t create and how contracts for actors and writers have been handled as the industry changed shape. As mentioned in this post, another iteration of the series isn’t in active development, but the strikes, combined with Gunn’s sentiment on the show’s lacking streaming residuals, place a further hurtle in place to ever getting one.

Stay tuned fore more Gilmore Girls new and updates from Netflix Life!