Picture: Netflix
Over the past few days, we’ve been monitoring the fandom surrounding Julie and the Phantoms, who have remained loyal to the show after it was sadly canceled coming up on three years ago. After recent posts, changes, and new articles, they believe the show is coming back in some form. Here’s what they’ve dug up!
First released in September 2020, the kids’ show was the first major new title to emerge from Netflix’s big new overall deal with Kenny Ortega, the brains behind some beloved Disney titles, most notably High School Musical.
On December 18th, 2021 – Kenny Ortega announced that the show was canceled after a single season.
Now, all these years later, fans of the show believe it might be coming back. Thanks to many fans for cataloging all the coincidences or happenings and a special Terell on X for his thread, who helped us tremendously put this together.
The first place to start is with The Hollywood Reporter, which posted on March 21st that Kenny Ortega had switched talent agencies. The pertinent part here is the following:
“In 2019, Netflix plucked Ortega away from the Disney Channel to sign a multiple-year overall deal with the streaming giant, and with Auntie Claus and the tween musical Julie and the Phantoms among his first projects. That overall deal with Netflix is no longer in place.”
Ortega’s Instagram has been the next place of speculation. Firstly, Ortega reportedly re-added Julie and the Phantoms tag to his bio and then posted a picture of his dog with the caption, “I’ll be right back Willie…” According to one thread going viral on X, the name of his dog, Willie, is also the name of one of the characters in Julie and the Phantoms portrayed by Booboo Stewart.
Moving to TikTok, numerous cast members have recently posted about the show. Jadah Marie and Savannah Lee May both posted similar TikToks with the caption:
“Me scrolling through all of the JATP TikToks making great points on how we could come back for a season 2.”
Many people connected to the show are also reposting about JATP again. One of the writers and producers, Sean W. Cunningham, is posting about the show again for the first time in a while.
Owen Patrick Jones also posted something on TikTok via the DreamItConventions account about season 2. As did Charles Gillespie on Instagram with a Reel videoing one of the filming locations for season 1 with the suggestive song, “The Band is Back.”
Madison Reyes has been promoting her new music with Julie and the Phantoms on X but has also more recently posted a JATP tease on TikTok.
All I’m gonna say #julie #jatp pic.twitter.com/W3WdUGE4yv
— TheMadisonReyes (@MadisonReyesHQ) April 6, 2024
After being inundated with messages surrounding the show on that Tweet, Reyes posted something that throws a little bit of cold water on a revival.
You guys are making me believe jatp is fr coming back lol
— TheMadisonReyes (@MadisonReyesHQ) April 6, 2024
In short, then, many cast members and crew have been posting about the show quite a bit over the past few weeks, and with other, perhaps coincidences, some believe the show is coming back.
Our intel is that Netflix still has the global indefinite rights on the first season of Julie and the Phantoms, although that would change should the show get revived elsewhere.
As we’ve covered before, shows being revived away from Netflix are less common than many would’ve liked. Only a few have ever gotten new leases of life away from Netflix, and even when they do happen, they’re often not rebooted for long. Titles that’ve been revived before include One Day at a Time, Tuca & Bertie, and most recently, Warrior Nun (although that one needs a considerable asterisk!).
Fans Planning Global Rewatch of Julie and the Phantoms on April 30th
Finally, if you want to get involved, you’ll find numerous accounts on TikTok and Instagram promoting an upcoming global Netflix rewatch for April 30th, hoping to get the show noticed and in the top 10s again.
That’s all we know for now. In the comments, let us know if you’re hoping Julie and the Phantoms will get a season 2 renewal outside of Netflix or back at Netflix.
