It looks like a beloved Disney animated series – Recess – was nearly set to receive a reboot. An alleged pitch bible for such a project recently leaked online, and while it’s uncertain if this project could still get the greenlight or not, it’s certainly an interesting look at where the show’s characters could be today.
The pitch bible, which was shared by @LostMediaBuster on X, reveals numerous details regarding the project. For starters, it reveals that the name of the series would be Recess: Next Bell. It also appears to have been written by the original show’s creators, Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere.
As mentioned, it’s unknown if the project still has any chance of happening. This pitch bible is currently dated June 3, 2022. It reveals details regarding the premise of the series, the structure of its first episode, and descriptions for both new and returning characters.
For starters, fans can expect Randall as the school’s new principal, while the new group of kids is led by a young girl named Ruby. She’s actually the daughter of both Vince and Spinelli from the original Recess series.
Other classic characters are also expected to return, with T.J. having “turned into a disillusioned, selfish adult, who only cares about money and self-gratification.” It’s said that “TJ’s journey mirrors many of our adult fans’ real lives and experiences, and TJ will regain his idealism over the course of the series.”
The biggest changes with the classic characters seem to come from Mikey and Gus. With Mikey, he appears to have died from “a mysterious illness,” though his friends keep “a book of Mikey’s sayings.” As such, “whenever they need inspiration, the gang will find it in his surprisingly visionary book.”
Gus, on the other hand, “followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the army, and quickly moved up the ranks, promoted for his brains, loyalty and courage.” Eventually, however, he “made a change.” It appears that Gus transitions and becomes “Nikki Griswold.”
“At first there was a movement to drum Nikki out of the army, but when Time and Newsweek both put her on their covers, Lieutenant Colonel Nikki Griswold became the face of the new army. But the challenges weren’t over yet. First Nikki had to face her own truth, then the army had to come around, but now Nikki has to face her family and friends –and that might prove to be the biggest battle this soldier has yet to fight.”
🚨BREAKING🚨: A pitch bible has leaked for a reboot to Disney’s ‘Recess’ titled ‘Recess: Next Bell’.
The bible is written by the creators of the original series, Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere.
The bible is dated June 3rd, 2022.
To read: https://t.co/I9pzXHsgm7 pic.twitter.com/aOLEGG9gMw
— Lost Media Busters (@LostMediaBuster) May 30, 2024
It’s definitely a much different take than the original television series, though the creators allegedly acknowledge that times have changed in many different ways. If true, then, Recess: Next Bell would balance storylines featuring both new kids and the original crew as they all navigate life. Of course, it’s unknown if this pitch would ever be greenlit by Disney – and whether or not it was authentic at this point. Now that it’s making rounds online, however, perhaps more information will be released soon.
Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates regarding Disney and the possibility of a Recess reboot as we have them. In the meantime, this does offer fans a perspective as to what a follow-up to the hit animated series could be like.