‘Gossip Girl’ Will Premiere on HBO Max This July

Gossip Girl here with your latest look at the new batch of Manhattan’s elite. Today, HBO Max finally announced when its much-anticipated Gossip Girl reboot would premiere. But the fun didn’t end with that July 8 date. The network also released the series’ first teaser as well as character posters for its leads. Already, we’re hooked. Check out the teaser above and join our exclusive club.

This new take on a scandalous CW classic is set to premiere on Thursday, July 8. The 2021 Gossip Girl is developed by showrunner Joshua Safran, who was a writer and executive producer on the original series. It will also be executive produced by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, the creators and showrunners of 2007 to 2012 series. That little detail is important. Who else can understand the complicated scheming essential to the Upper East Side better than the originals? Set nine years after the original Gossip Girl’s (*cough* Dan Humphrey *cough*) website went dark, this drama will focus on a new generation of New York private school teens. And this time around the social surveillance is more invasive than ever. Good luck trying to hide your secrets, little ones.

HBO Max also included new character posters for all nine of its new leads. So let’s speculate about them wildly.

First up is Jordan Alexander as Julien Calloway. On Gossip Girl’s Instagram Julien was described only as “influence.” That wide-eyed faux innocence is giving us some serious Serena vibes.

Next up, Eli Brown as Otto “Obie” Bergmann IV. Fittingly his word is “privilege.” We’re tempted to go Nate here, but look at that smolder. There are some Chuck Bass undertones happening.

Thomas Doherty will be playing Max Wolfe, a character known by the word “freedom.” Max is a bit too perfectly hot to fall into the Dan mold, so we’re taking a swing here: Carter Baizen.

Tavi Gevinson is set to play Kate Keller, whose word is “ambition.” It’s time for another wild swing. What if this season we’re not following a Lonely Boy, but a Lonely Girl? Kate has the vibes of a desperate outsider, aka Dan.

Next up is the easiest character to peg. Or are they? Emily Alyn Lind will play Audrey Hope, known by the word “grace.” And you couldn’t get more Blair Waldorf if you tried.

That brings us to one of the most interesting characters this season, Evan Mock’s Akeno “Aki” Menzies, defined by the word “innocence.” It would be tempting to label Aki as another outsider, but there’s something to their natural grace. They have money. Maybe they’re someone like Eric, kind and part of this world but responsibly distant. Or maybe that innocence is a full-out lie and we’re looking at our new Chuck.

And now we’ve found our Jenny. Zion Moreno will play Luna La, a character known by the word “style.” Look at that forced pout. This person has plans to watch the world burn.

Next up is Whitney Peak who will play Zoya Lott, known by the word “perspective.” If that doesn’t scream Vanessa, nothing does.

Last but certainly not least is Savannah Lee Smith playing Monet de Haan. The word? “Power.” Sounds an awful lot like Blaire Waldorf. Life’s always more fun when you have two queens, especially when they’re ready to fight to the death.

Altogether Gossip Girl ran for six seasons on The CW where it became known as one of the most controversial teen dramas to ever air. How could it not have that reputation? Its underage characters drank and snorted drugs almost every episode. It wasn’t uncommon to watch these teenagers start relationships with teachers and their parents’ friends. Also common? The show’s pseudo incest. Serena, Dan, Chuck, and Jenny hooked up and broke up too many times to count, both before and after Lily and Rufus’ wedding. Basically, this new Gossip Girl can’t be Gossip Girl without inspiring some pearl clutching. You know we’ll be watching. XOXO.