Miranda Cosgrove revealed that she had one key condition for reprising her role as Carly Shay in the iCarly revival: adapting the show for an older audience. The Paramount+ series, which premiered in 2021, allowed for more mature themes compared to the original Nickelodeon run. Despite its cancellation after three seasons, Cosgrove remains hopeful for a movie to resolve the cliffhanger.
Revival Background
The iCarly revival launched on Paramount+ in the summer of 2021, nine years after the original Nickelodeon series ended. Cosgrove returned as Carly Shay, now an adult who relaunches her web show. Original cast members Jerry Trainor as Spencer and Nathan Kress as Freddie also reprised their roles, joined by newcomers Laci Mosley and Jaidyn Triplett.
As an executive producer, Cosgrove insisted on tailoring the content to reflect the characters' grown-up lives. In an interview with Variety, she explained, 'We had a lot of wiggle room' thanks to the Paramount+ platform, adding that it 'would have been kind of strange' for the adult characters to host a kids' show.
Mature Themes and Reception
The revival explored adult-oriented topics like sexuality, relationships, and parental abandonment, resonating with the original audience now in adulthood. It felt like reconnecting with old friends, offering a broader perspective on life issues.
Cancellation and Future Prospects
Paramount+ canceled iCarly after three seasons in 2023. The finale ended on a cliffhanger with Carly and Spencer's estranged mother returning after years of abandonment, setting up potential storylines for a fourth season. Despite the axing, Cosgrove is optimistic about a movie to tie up loose ends.