We're one huge step closer to putting on some scrubs and catching up with our favorite doctors at Sacred Heart Hospital. The in-the-works Scrubs reboot series at ABC landed a big win this week with the confirmed return of the original series' biggest star.
After months of waiting for new developments on the Scrubs reboot, Zach Braff has officially signed on to return as JD, otherwise known professionally as Dr. Dorian. According to Deadline, negotiations with Braff nearly brought the reboot project to a halt over talks about financials and filming the series in Los Angeles rather than Vancouver.
Braff's confirmation for the reboot doesn't come as a surprise, since the actor has been vocally in support of the project from the get go. He's also part of the reason it's likely even a possibility. He and costar Donald Faison host the successful rewatch podcast Fake Doctors, Real Friends. In October 2024, Braff told Variety that he was looking forward to the "dream" of reuniting with his cast:
"The idea of getting back together with my friends and doing like 10 or 12 episodes of maybe one or two seasons, and just laughing with everyone? That sounds like a dream."
Thankfully, Braff and 20th Television, which produces the series and owns the Scrubs IP, came to an agreement and overcomes one of the reboot's biggest hurdles. While the series hasn't gotten a green light from ABC just yet, Sarah Chalke and Donald Faison are also expected to reprise their roles as series regulars, while Judy Reyes and John C. McGinley would have recurring roles.
ABC's Scrubs reboot gets exciting casting update
The potential reboot remains in development, but Zach Braff securing a deal to return gives Scrubs the best update its received. On top of Braff returning, original series creator Bill Lawrence will also be on board as an executive producer outside of his overall deal with Warner Bros. TV, though he won't be showrunning. Lawrence's deal was probably even more crucial to iron out than Braff's.
An official synopsis for the prospective reboot series hasn't been revealed, but all of us Scrubs fans who had issues with the infamous ninth and final season might have to prepare ourselves. That season was a reboot in and of itself, shifting much of the focus to a new batch of doctors and interns with a cast that included the likes of Eliza Coupe and Dave Franco.
While the reboot will see many of the core original cast members back, there will also likely be an additional focus on new characters. In October 2024, Lawrence basically confirmed to Deadline that the new series would be something of a reboot and revival hybrid:
"We’ve been talking about a lot, and I think the only real reason to do it is a combo. A: people wanting to see what the world of medicine was like for the people they love, which is part of any successful reboot. But B: I think that show always worked because you get to see young people dropped into the world of medicine, knowing young people that go there are super idealistic and are doing it because it’s a calling."
It's the best case scenario that both Lawrence and Braff have been locked in first and that the whole creative team has been taking the time to carefully craft something special for fans. It's not rushed, as much as we would love to start watching it as soon as possible. With ABC recently losing Roseanne revival The Conners (which also featured Sarah Chalke), the network will likely love to see another nostalgic comedy back on the air. Hopefully, Scrubs 2.0 starts moving a bit faster now!