HBO is officially bringing back Girls, nearly a decade after Lena Dunham’s acclaimed comedy-drama ended its six-season run. The network announced on October 13, 2026, that the series will return for five new episodes, reuniting its original leading actresses, including Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet and Jemima Kirke.
Dunham will once again write, direct and star in the series, with production scheduled to begin in 2027.
Which Original Girls Cast Members Are Returning?
The revival will reunite the show’s four central characters:
- Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath
- Allison Williams as Marnie Michaels
- Jemima Kirke as Jessa Johansson
- Zosia Mamet as Shoshanna Shapiro
Andrew Rannells will also return as Elijah Krantz, while Judd Apatow is back as an executive producer.
However, Adam Driver, who played Hannah’s complicated love interest Adam Sackler, was not included in the announcement. His potential return remains unconfirmed.
Why Lena Dunham Decided to Revive Girls
In HBO’s official statement, Dunham explained that revisiting the characters required more than nostalgia.
“We always said we would only return to GIRLS if there was a specific story we were burning to tell.”
The filmmaker revealed that inspiration finally arrived around her 40th birthday, when she began imagining how the characters might navigate their lives today.
HBO comedy chief Amy Gravitt confirmed that the revival will explore the transition from the characters’ chaotic twenties to their forties.
That’s an interesting direction for a show originally defined by financial uncertainty, difficult friendships and complicated romantic relationships.
When Will the Girls Revival Premiere?
HBO has not announced a premiere date, although filming is expected to begin in 2027.
The original Girls aired from 2012 to 2017, earning 19 Emmy nominations and two wins. Its candid portrayal of young adulthood attracted both praise and controversy.
Rather than simply recreating the original series, the five-episode revival offers an opportunity to explore whether Hannah, Marnie, Jessa and Shoshanna have genuinely changed over the past decade.
