Take heart, Roseanne fans! In the wake of Roseanne Barr’s racist tweets and ABC’s subsequent cancellation of the rebooted sitcom, a spinoff was suggested but simply didn’t seem possible. How can you have Roseanne without, well, Roseanne? The matter was made especially tricky because Barr has a writing credit on the series. But — and it’s a big one — new intel suggests that a spinoff isn’t just possible, it could happen soon.
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Per Deadline, lots of legwork behind the scenes has come to a promising point: Barr is ready to sign off on the potential spinoff. While the terms and conditions of the agreement have not been released, it would reportedly involve Barr receiving a one-time payment from Carsey-Werner, the production company. In exchange for that payment, Barr would relinquish her rights to any profits from the spinoff.
In other words, Barr couldn’t come back later and sue ABC or Carsey-Werner over the spinoff. The reported agreement would mean that Barr would no longer have any creative or financial rights where the series is concerned.
So, where does that leave the potential spinoff? According to Deadline, ABC will have seven days from the time that Barr signs the agreement to decide whether it will pursue a pickup.
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Barr’s tweet on Friday could suggest that the actor and comedian wants to put this chapter behind her and let her costars find success without her.
https://twitter.com/therealroseanne/status/1007647186371297280At this point, most of the buzz regarding the spinoff centers on Darlene, played by Sara Gilbert. Although fans also heavily favored a spinoff focused on John Goodman and Laurie Metcalf, MSN reports that the veteran actors would remain on for the tentatively titled Darlene.
And, hey, we’ve seen from another nostalgic revival how well it can work to focus on a now-grown-up daughter of the original series. Case in point: Fuller House, which returned in 2016 with a plot about recently widowed D.J. Fuller (Candace Cameron Bure) and her three sons.
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Gilbert hasn’t posted to Twitter or Instagram since the series was canceled, at which time she wrote, “This is incredibly sad and difficult for all of us, as we’ve created a show that we believe in, are proud of, and that audiences love — one that is separate and apart from the opinions and words of one cast member.”
We’re choosing to take Gilbert’s silence as a good sign, though. Perhaps she’s been in talks about the spinoff and contractually can’t say anything yet? Here’s hoping.
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