This week, Paramount+ revealed a slate of new content that they will be releasing in the next few years. However, “new” may not be the right word, as much of the content is based on already existing properties. People are eager for new installments of works with which they grew up, and Paramount+ recognizes that. But can this strategy sustain Paramount+ and other streaming services in the long term? How long until the nostalgia craze dies down and services have to pivot to original content? It will inevitably happen someday, and will these services adapt?

This nostalgia craze is not unique to Paramount+ or even streamers in general. Cable and broadcast networks have increasingly turned to their older properties to bring back older fans. This could lead to newer, more diverse content being passed over. Also, what happens if a revival does not live up to the original, and fans reject it? The network or streamer could have used those resources to develop a new property, one where everyone views it on a level playing field. Entertainment will always be divisive, and though people have differing opinions on the viability of revivals, one thing is clear. The nostalgia craze is not going away any time soon.

What Was Announced?

     Paramount Pictures

At their investor presentation this week, Paramount+ revealed much of their new content set to roll out in the coming years. The streamer is betting big on nostalgia, with revivals, reboots, and spin-offs comprising the bulk of the announcement. The content includes a TV series based on the Halo video games, a new trilogy of Transformers films, and new installments of film franchises Sonic the Hedgehog, PAW Patrol, and A Quiet Place. SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are producing new films and series, as well as preschool powerhouses Blue’s Clues, Dora the Explorer, and Baby Shark.

MTV’s Teen Wolf is back for a new movie, and the revival of Nickelodeon’s hit iCarly will premiere a new season. The worlds of Star Trek and Yellowstone are expanding, and Jersey Shore will be adapted for other countries such as Brazil and Mexico. Animated series South Park and Beavis and Butt-head and drama SEAL Team will produce new original films to appeal to an adult audience.

Differing Opinions

     Paramount+

Many fans love to see the return of shows and movies from their childhoods, but not all fans. If you want to get an idea of the opinions around a particular reboot, simply scroll through social media or browse YouTube comments. There will almost always be a 50/50 split. Some people will be happy that the product they grew up with is coming back, while others want to see the past left in the past, focusing on developing new original content.

However, this does not mean that the “against revivals” crowd will never check one out. They may sample the first few episodes simply for curiosity’s sake, to see how it compares to an original. Whether one “hate-watches” a revival or watches it out of genuine interest, the streamer will still bring in those views. Once the streamer has these viewers hooked in, said viewers are more likely to check out other content on the site.

The Long-Term Viability

     CBS

Ultimately, the personal feelings of an audience will end up dictating the future of revivals. As long as these revivals bring in money and viewers for the streamer, they will keep pumping them out. However, not every revival will ultimately be a hit. For an example, look at Jordan Peele’s recent revival of The Twilight Zone. The series released two seasons and 20 episodes before Paramount+ canceled it in 2021. While the reasons for the cancellation were unclear, this demonstrates that not every revival will be a long-lasting success if the audience is not there.

So what does this mean for the future of revivals? It is difficult to predict from just one example, but this does show a potential blueprint. If audiences do not respond to a revival and do not give it enough attention, it will likely fail. This will not be the case for every revival, but if more and more are rejected by an audience, streamers may have to evaluate their strategies.

In any case, revivals and spin-offs are here to stay on Paramount+ and other streamers, at least for the near future. No matter how one feels about a particular property, most of them are making money for their distributors. If the culture shifts and audiences stray toward new content and away from revivals, we may see a different pattern emerge. New, original properties could dominate in the place of reboots. We can predict based on current trends, but it is more wait-and-see. The entertainment desires of an audience are always changing, and they will continue to change in the future.