"I smell snow". Every Gilmore Girls fan out there knows these words and the iconic meaning behind them, and perhaps even gets some goosebumps upon hearing them. Well, another chance to return to Stars Hollow is upon us, as a new documentary is officially set to premiere soon to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the beloved series.
Searching for Stars Hollow is the new Gilmore Girls project, set to bring viewers, fans, and every caffeine-dependent person back to this world. From Ink On Paper Studios, The Hollywood Reporter shares the documentary is set to explore "the show's role in American cultural history". It will also feature interviews and stories from the cast and crew that have never been released before.
Who is set to return for the Gilmore Girls documentary?
Original cast members who have signed to return are Kelly Bishop (Emily Gilmore), Jared Padalecki (Dean Forester), and Chad Michael Murray (Tristan Dugray), all of whom cemented their filmographies by appearing on Gilmore Girls. Dean and Tristan were Rory Gilmore's love interests at various points in the series, while Emily was the matriarch of the Gilmore clan.
Other cast members will also appear on the documentary, though through interviews, including Keiko Agena (Lane Kim, Rory's best friend), Sally Struthers (Babette Dell), Liz Torres (Miss Paty), Emily Kuroda (Mrs. Kim), Rose Abdoo (Gypsy), all who were friends and neighbours to the Gilmore Girls in the Stars Hollow town.
Meghna Balakumar and Kevin Konrad Hanna will direct the documentary, with Balakumar stating that the documentary's production has already shot more than 100 hours of footage, which will include interviews, commentary, never-before-told stories from behind the scenes, and plenty more surprises for the fans.
Producer Jim Demonakos also revealed that the purpose of the documentary is to celebrate 25 years of Gilmore Girls magic, how the series came to be, and how, after almost 20 years of it being off the air, it still resonates with audiences due to its unforgettable humour, quick-witted one-liners, unmatched cast chemistry, and pop culture references. The producer added, "This documentary is for fans of the show but also for anyone with an interest in cultural history and how it affects individual lives."
Will Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel return?
While there's no mention of appearances from Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore), Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore), Scott Patterson (Luke Danes), Liza Veil (Paris Geller), Milo Ventimiglia (Jess Mariano), Melissa McCarthy (Sookie St. James), Yanic Truesdale (Michele Gerard), Matt Czuchry (Logan Huntzberger), and Sean Gunn (Kirk), specifically, it is safe to assume they will appear throughout the documentary in some shape or form.
Edward Herrmann, who memorably played the patriarch of the Gilmore clan, Richard Gilmore, sadly passed away in 2014. Hopefully, he will still appear in the documentary, as his role was also instrumental to the series' success.
Gilmore Girls originally ran for seven seasons, detailing the lives of Lorelai and Rory, as well as their family and friends, amidst the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. The series became a cult phenomenon, earning praise and acclaim. In 2016, Netflix released a four-episode revival called Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, which was met with mixed reviews from critics and fans.
Kelly Bishop and Lauren Graham have both released memoirs, The Third Gilmore Girl and Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, respectively, where they detail some of their experiences on the show. A documentary will surely further expand some of the tidbits and crumbs shared by the actresses in their books, who also grew close during and after playing mother and daughter for years.
The documentary doesn't have a release date yet as of early September 2025. However, the date will likely be announced soon, coinciding with the series' anniversary this upcoming October.