The long-gestating Frasier sequel has finally been picked up to series. Kelsey Grammer is set to reprise his role as psychiatrist-turned-radio host Frasier Crane in the follow-up, but his fellow main cast members from the original are not expected to return as series regulars in the new Paramount+ show.
Frasier sequel cast
Aside from Grammer, no other actors are confirmed to appear in the sequel just yet. Though original main cast members David Hyde Pierce, Jane Leeves, and Peri Gilpin are not likely to join the sequel as series regulars, Deadline reported that the trio could appear as guest stars in the follow-up.
In the original, Pierce played Frazier’s neurotic brother Dr. Niles Crane. Leeves appeared as Niles’ husband Daphne Moon, and Gilpin portrayed the role of radio producer Roz Doyle. Another main cast member from the original is John Mahoney, who played Frasier and Niles’ father, Martin Crane. Mahoney, however, passed away in 2018 due to complications from throat cancer.
Frasier sequel plot
Plot details about the sequel are being kept under wraps, but it was previously revealed that it will focus on the next chapter of Frasier’s life in a different city, where he will be surrounded by new characters. This explains why Pierce, Leeves, and Gilpin won’t likely be back as series regulars in the sequel.
As fans can remember, the last season of Frasier ended with the titular character leaving Seattle radio station KACL to pursue a new opportunity in San Francisco. But in the final scene of the NBC sitcom, it was revealed that Frasier landed in Chicago to instead pursue his romance with his girlfriend Charlotte (Laura Linney).
“Frasier’s gonna change cities again,” Grammer told New York’s NBC 4 in July 2021 of his character’s next chapter in a new city. “He thinks he’s gonna go off and do one thing, and sure enough, his life takes him in another direction. And he ends up rich beyond his dreams.”
In an interview on In Depth with Graham Bensinger back in 2019, Grammer revealed that the Frasier sequel will explore Frasier in “his next iteration” with a focus on the relationship with his son, Frederick (originally portrayed by Trevor Einhorn).
The sequel comes from writers Chris Harris (How I Met Your Mother) and Joe Cristalli (Life in Pieces), who both exec produce with Grammer, Tom Russo, and Jordan McMahon. The follow-up will be produced by CBS Studios in association with Grammer’s Grammnet NH Productions.
Frasier sequel release date
The 10-episode first season of the sequel doesn’t have a release date yet, but Grammer teased last July that filming for the project could begin shooting this fall.
“Shooting? There were some conversations about October, maybe a little later. I don’t know,” Grammer said on The Talk (via Deadline). “There are a couple of other things coming up. We’ve developed a couple of other projects that look like they’re going to shoot first.”
Grammer went on to say at that time that they were “in the final stages of the final script for the first episode of the Frasier reboot and it looks pretty good. “I’ve had a couple of runs through it, and I cried, so you know, I’m happy,” he added.
About Frasier
A spin-off of the sitcom Cheers, the original Frasier continued the story of psychiatrist Frasier Crane who returned to his hometown, Seattle, as a radio show host. There, he reconnected with his father, Martin, a retired police officer, and his younger brother, Niles, a fellow psychiatrist.
Created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee, Frazier ran for 11 seasons between 1993 and 2004 on NBC. It is one of the most celebrated comedy series of the 1990s and 2000s, setting a record for the most Emmy Awards won by a scripted series at the time, 37, including five consecutive Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series.