The pop culture classic cartoon Regular Show announced its return to the screen this June, with a revival show green-lit for 44 episodes seven years after its perfect finale. Regular Show debuted on Cartoon Network in 2010 and amassed a loyal fanbase through its runtime, ending in 2017. The show, revered for its absurdist humor and hilarious characters, followed Rigby, a raccoon, and Mordecai, a blue jay, throughout their chaotic adventures while being groundskeepers of a local park.
J.G. Quintel, the cartoon’s original showrunner, is set to return to his role for the revival, but he isn’t the only one returning. While at a spotlight panel for the Chicago Fan Expo, the legendary performer Mark Hamill, who played Skips in Regular Show, announced that he would return to the revival, saying “There is only one Skips.” To raise even more excitement, Hamill revealed that he was asked about his involvement by William Salyers, the voice actor for Rigby, which strongly implies Salyers will be returning too. However, as exciting as the reboot is, Regular Show‘s original finale raises questions about what the story will entail.
Mark Hamill’s Skips Return Suggests The New Regular Show Is An Actual Sequel
In a world full of reboots, Hamill’s return to his role of Skips indicates that this Regular Show project may well be a true revival. Skips, an immortal yeti, was a central character in Regular Show and was very often integral to the plot. Having such a beloved and important character return to the show implies that this project will be a continuation of Regular Show rather than a spin-off, keeping the story connected to memorable plot points and characters from the original show.
While Hamill is currently the only confirmed cast member returning to the project, his allusion to Salyer’s involvement and return alone heavily suggests that other fan-favorite characters could be coming back to the screen. This would cement the new Regular Show project’s standing as a sequel rather than a reboot. This difference is incredibly important, as many revival projects have often neglected the fanbase with reboots that negate the original audience entirely. By having the original cast return, long-time fans can feel safer knowing it’s still the show they know and love.
How A Regular Show Sequel Can Work After Season 8’s Ending
It can be hard for long-running shows to find the perfect ending, but Regular Show hit the nail on the head with its bittersweet exit. After an intense battle, Pops sacrifices himself to save the universe and allows Rigby, Mordecai, and their friends to part ways and move on to a fulfilling life. Regular Show ended with a 25-year time jump, where each character and their new families reconnected and reminisced over their time at the park.
Having such a satisfying and heartwarming conclusion means that putting the original characters back into chaotic and stressful adventures could undermine the beauty of
Regular Show
’s ending.
The Regular Show revival needs to be careful how it goes forward, especially with old characters returning. Having such a satisfying and heartwarming conclusion means that putting the original characters back into chaotic and stressful adventures could undermine the beauty of Regular Show’s ending. The revival could possibly focus on Rigby and Mordecai’s children, all grown up and ready to ground keep the same park their parents did. Or perhaps Skips’ return indicates the show will further explore the mysterious and mystical elements. Regardless, it’s important the Regular Show revival doesn’t undo its perfect ending.
Regular Show Revival Balancing Old & New Characters Is The Key For It To Work
Like most revivals, it’s clear that Regular Show will be attempting to reach a new audience with this project, as the revival will be focused on a new ensemble of characters. However, including familiar faces in the revival was still a smart choice, as it ensures that the show will still feel connected to the original. These returning characters will act as a bridge between the two shows, carrying along the charm and tone that make Regular Show so beloved.
It’s important to note that the focus on new characters isn’t just for a new audience, adding new personalities to stories like Regular Show is an integral part of keeping the cartoon entertaining. Adding a diverse range of characters paves the way for new territory to be explored within the show, like new dynamics, hijinks, and conflicts for the writers to pen in that signature Regular Show style. If this revival can nail the balance between old and new characters, Regular Show could reignite the trend of making children’s cartoons that genuinely entertain all ages.
