Revenge star Emily VanCamp gives an update on the show’s chances for a revival. Created by Mike Kelley, Revenge was a modern update on The Count of Monte Cristo that premiered on ABC in September 2011. The nighttime soap opera centered on the character of Emily Thorne (VanCamp) as she returns to the Hamptons with only one goal in mind: punish those she deems responsible for destroying her family.
Since concluding its run in 2015, after a total of 89 episodes, reports have occasionally popped up about the possibility of a Revenge continuation. A spinoff was considered at one point and, back in November 2019, it was revealed that a sequel series was in the works. The story would have followed a young Latina immigrant who arrives in Malibu to exact revenge on a pharmaceutical dynasty which caused the murder of her biochemist mother. The protagonist was set to be aided by one of the fan-favorite characters from the original series, with rumors suggesting it would be Nolan (played by Gabriel Mann). ABC ultimately passed on the Revenge sequel. But in new comments, VanCamp offered some optimism for fans of the show.
During an interview with Variety, VanCamp was asked if she’d ever want to revisit the world of Revenge. In her response, the actress made clear that she feels Emily Thorne's saga was sufficiently wrapped up. Still, pointing to the fact that she’s reprised her role as Sharon Carter for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, VanCamp stops short of ruling out a revival altogether. You can read VanCamp’s quote below:
“It’s been talked about, and I know that they were going to revive maybe in a different way, and I was super supportive and excited for that, too. I just don’t know that they really found a way that makes sense or that they really want to do yet. But, listen, I mean, if I’ve learned anything in this industry is never say never. I do feel that, you know, in terms of Emily Thorne/Amanda Clarke, her story really did come to an end. But again, you never know. I mean, I honestly didn’t think that I would be playing Sharon again, and here I am.”
It’s easy to see how a potential sequel could work, with VanCamp appearing as Thorne and stressing to the new protagonist that a life consumed by the desire to punish is a dangerous path. It would have been fitting for the character’s arc in the original series, showing how much VanCamp’s character has grown since viewers last saw her. Alternatively, if VanCamp couldn’t commit to a regularly recurring status, because of her role on FOX’s medical drama The Resident, Nolan’s experience as something of a revenge guru would come in handy.
It is not a positive sign that ABC decided only recently not to move forward with a Revenge revival. Whether that’s because of the premise invites harmful and bigoted stereotypes about how immigrants arrive in a new community and cause havoc, or because, as VanCamp implies, there simply wasn’t enough to the story, it seems likely that the series will remain dormant for the time being. However, in another five or ten years, Revenge could prove to be nostalgic enough for its own reboot.
Source: Variety