‘Degrassi’ Lives On: Netflix Picks Up the Canceled Series

Netflix Picks Up Degrassi for a New Season

Fans of Degrassi who were saddened by the recent news of the show’s cancellation by TeenNick after 14 seasons have reason to cheer. Netflix isn’t going to let the series end quite yet, opting to pick up the show for a new season titled Degrassi: Next Class. The new season will air on Netflix in 2016 with Eric Osborne, Ana Golja, Andre Kim, Richard Walters, Olivia Scriven, Ricardo Hoyos, Nikki Gould, and Lyle Lettau back in starring roles.

Degrassi will finish up its run on TeenNick this summer, kicking off its final 12 new episodes on July 20, 2015 at 9pm ET/PT. Commenting on the end of Degrassi on TeenNick, Keith Dawkins, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Nicktoons, TeenNick and Nick Jr. said, “For an incredible 14 seasons, Degrassi has been a groundbreaking show tackling so many important topics that real teens face in their everyday lives. In the final episodes on TeenNick and through the hour-long special and social activations, we hope to say goodbye in a way that is both fitting to the show and Degrassi’s passionate fan base.”

In announcing their pickup of the series, Erik Barmack, Vice President of global content at Netflix said, “We are so excited to bring Degrassi: Next Class to the world. For more than three decades, this groundbreaking show has been reaching teens with important stories and starting in 2016 our members around the world will be able to enjoy and discover the newest chapter of this great show.”

The Plot:

Keeping true to the spirit of the Degrassi franchise, which generations have known and loved since 1980, Degrassi: Next Class is a pull-no-punches dramatic series that tackles the real-life issues of high school students. Telling the stories of “Generation Z,” the series focuses on a group of teens as they begin their journey into adulthood.

Pushing their own limits and testing the bonds of family and friends, the students each find their own way to deal with a range of issues: from homophobia, racism, substance abuse and violence to burgeoning sexuality, body issues, heartbreak and the complications of dating in the social media age. The series strives to entertain its post-millennial audience while always reinforcing its core principle: You are not alone.