'Gilmore Girls' Revival Cast News: Melissa McCarthy Announces Return to Stars Hollow
The "Gilmore Girls" revival has added another key character to its growing roster of Stars Hollow residents.
In an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Thursday, April 7, "Ghostbusters" actress Melissa McCarthy confirmed that she will be reprising her role as Sookie St. James, Lorelai Gilmore's (Lauren Graham) BFF, in the upcoming "Gilmore Girls" reboot.
Sookie, who appeared in all seven episodes of the cult favorite series, was a chef who co-owned the Dragonfly Inn with Lorelai.
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"Literally about an hour and half ago we figured out that I'm gonna go back and do it and I am so excited," McCarthy said. "And they are gonna be amazing."
"[Creator] Amy Sherman-Palladino is going to squeeze me in to do it and I'm very happy to go back to Stars Hollow," the actress told DeGeneres. "Oh my gosh, there's me and Lauren [Graham]. I'm just really excited about that."
The announcement of McCarthy's return came after months of speculation about what many perceived to be the "Gilmore Girls" creator's snubbing of the "Mike & Molly" star. After most of the beloved family drama's original main cast members were confirmed to return for the revival event earlier this year, questions arose about whether or not McCarthy was too busy with her filming schedule to return for Netflix's four-part limited event. The actress has been busy filming "The Boss," which opened last week, as well as the long-awaited remake of "Ghostbusters."
In February, McCarthy told a Twitter follower that she had not been asked to participate in the "Gilmore Girls" reboot.
"Thanks for the invite, but sadly no one asked me or Sookie to come back to Stars Hollow," the actress replied to a fan begging her to return to Stars Hollow. "Wish them all the best!!," she added.
Nevertheless, Sherman-Palladino later clarified that there were no "juicy" or "hidden" reasons behind McCarthy's absence from the revival event. "I've been told by her people for months, 'Can't happen. Can't happen. Can't happen,'" the "Gilmore Girls" creator told Entertainment Weekly. According to Sherman-Palladino, she understands that McCarthy is one of the most in-demand actresses right now and said that they are all proud of her.
A premiere date for the "Gilmore Girls" reboot has yet to be announced.
