When major streaming giant Netflix announced late last year that the iconic 90s Australian teen-drama Heartbreak High would dropping on its platform by the end of 2020; long-term fans of the show went into a collective spiral. The ultimate coming of age, quintessential retelling of the adolescent Australian experience was returning to our screens once more. Which really, shouldn't have come as much of a surprise given our undying obsession with all things 90s.
Although many of us would have been satisfied with this small bout of nostalgia, it seems that Netflix is taking it one step further; announcing a Heartbreak High reboot that will be premiering sooner than we think. Just in case the sling of current 90s reboots wasn't enough; the new eight-episode series will no doubt be inspired by its original 90s counterpart, but totally reimagined for a new generation.
The series is also set to feature some RUSSH-favourite faces, like the beloved Josh Heuston; as well as some fresh Australian talents we can't keep our eyes off. Looking to add another series to your 2022 list? Here's what we know about the Heartbreak High reboot so far.
What will the Heartbreak High reboot be about?
As we've mentioned, the series will still focus on the challenges and learnings of teenage years through a raw and unfiltered lens – the same honestly which shot the original series to fame in the first place. Though the details on the Heartbreak High reboot are still scarce, the official synopsis from Netflix gives us some insight into what we can expect.
"A discovery makes Amerie an instant pariah at Hartley High, and causes a mysterious and very public rift with her ride-or-die Harper. With her new friends - outsiders Quinni and Darren - Amerie must repair her reputation, while navigating love, sex, and heartbreak."
Who has been cast in the new series?
- Amerie (Ayesha Madon) [She/Her] (The Moth Effect, Fangirls, Romeo and Juliet) is whip smart and outwardly brash, a working-class girl with an enormous heart and an even bigger mouth.
- Darren (James Majoos) [They/Them/He/Him] (Fangirls, Grand Horizons, Vivid White) is the warmest snarky shit-stirrer you’re ever likely to meet. Whilst they are outwardly brash, inwardly Darren fears they are a hard person to love.
- Quinni (Chloe Hayden) [She/Her] (Jeremy The Dud, Sister From The South, Embrace Kids) is all literal and lateral, a brain trying to connect to a body and a heart. Besties with Darren, she’s outrageous, raw, and sometimes a little bit wrongtown. Quinni is autistic, and a master of imitation and masking.
- Harper (Asher Yasbincek) [She/Her] (The Heights, Rams, How To Please A Woman) is the person in High School everyone is a little afraid of (even the teachers). To be in Harper’s orbit is to feel kinda special - getting into that orbit is the hard part.
- Malakai (Thomas Weatherall) [He/Him] (RFDS, All My Friends Are Racist) is athletic and full of bravado. A Bundjalung boy, and new at Hartley High, he’s a basketball natural, hates sitting still, and makes friends easily.
- Dusty (Josh Heuston) [He/Him] (Dive Club, Thor: Love and Thunder, Finally Me) is so gorgeous it hurts. He’s the bass player in an indie rock band and has slept with half the girls - and even a few boys - at school, but underneath the hot aesthetic he’s just as insecure as the rest of us mere humans.
- Ca$h (Will McDonald) [He/Him] (Riot, Home and Away, Young Rock) is a drug dealer, food delivery driver, pet duck owner, eshay. Beneath the mullet, Ca$h is a complex young man quietly struggling with his identity.
- Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran) [She/Her/They/Them] (Diary of an Uber Driver, Mustangs FC, Back of the Net) is the coolest, sexiest, and chiccest lesbian at the school. She comes across as well-read and highly nuanced, but is it all surface level?
- Woodsy (Rachel House) [She/Her] (Moana, Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) is the Principal at Hartley High. She likes to think of herself as a woke ally, but the students say she’s more of a “Karen”.
- Jojo (Chika Ikogwe) [She/Her] (Fangirls, The Moth Effect) is an English teacher at Hartley High. When the school is mired in controversy, she volunteers to tackle the issue head on.
- Missy (Sherry-Lee Watson) [She/Her] (On the Town, Mongrel) is much more introspective than she lets on. She’s trying to find “her person” but it’s tough at Hartley High.
- Spider (Bryn Chapman-Parish) [He/Him] (Mr Inbetween) is a sprinkling of incel, dickhead and class clown rolled into one.
- Ant (Brodie Townsend) [He/Him] is affable, big-hearted, and the kind of guy who’ll always look out for you when you get too wasted at a party.
Is there an official release date for the Heartbreak High reboot?
Although an official release date is yet to be confirmed, Netflix has announced that the series will hit our screens sometime in 2022. Stay tuned for more details to come on the Netflix reboot of Heartbreak High.
