Netflix officially confirms long-rumored 'Gilmore Girls' revival

It’s official — Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) Gilmore will once again be gracing television (and computer) screens nationwide. Fans got official confirmation on Jan. 29 that the “Gilmore Girls” (2000-2007) revival would indeed air on Netflix in four 90-minute installments. Filming for the show commenced on Tuesday.

Importantly for many fans, series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband Dan Palladino are back as showrunners; the pair departed “Gilmore Girls” prior to its seventh and final season, often considered by fans and critics to be the series' weakest. Returning cast members include Graham, Bledel, Scott Patterson as Luke, Kelly Bishop as Emily Gilmore, Sean Gunn as Kirk and Keiko Agena as Lane.

There are a few notable absences, however. Edward Herrmann, who played Richard Gilmore, died in December 2014, meaning that the show will have to address the absence of Rory’s grandfather. Bishop, who plays Herrmann’s onscreen wife, told TVLine in a Feb. 1 interview that the revival will find Emily coming to terms with the loss of her spouse.

“Because of the fact that Emily lost her husband, she’s kind of a raw nerve,” Bishop said. “In a desperate attempt to push through [her grief], she blows between right on the edge of losing it to almost being a little manic.”

Melissa McCarthy, who played Lorelai’s best friend, lovable cook Sookie, is not slated for a return. McCarthy has experienced a meteoric rise to fame since the final episode of “Gilmore Girls” aired and has a busy filming schedule lined up this year, making it impossible for her to commit to the “Gilmore Girls” revival. Sherman-Palladino told TVLine in a Feb. 1 interview that she hopes McCarthy will be able to find time to stop by the set to film a short cameo.

“If Melissa is available and has an afternoon free, I’ll write her a scene,” she said. “Melissa was one of us.”