Kevin McHale isn't beaming with Glee about Artie's comeback.
Fans of the long-running Fox series might be excited about the possibility of a revival, but don't expect Glee club member Artie Abrams, originally played by McHale, to be in the mix. The fan favorite, who played Artie on all six seasons of the Fox series, spoke to Insider about the potential reboot and explained why he wouldn't play the future film director again.
"I don't know if Artie could be in it," McHale told Insider Nov. 16. "Knowing what we know now, I don't think I should be playing a character that's in a wheelchair. So, if they let me grow out of my beard and play a different character, I'll do it."
During the series, Artie explained that he had previously experienced a car accident that resulted in him being in the wheelchair. But reflecting on the role years later, McHale says he and the Glee team now "know better."
"What were we thinking?" he reflected on the role. "I can't play that part."
But a Glee revival might not be so far off. Series co-creator Ryan Murphy discussed the idea of a reboot in November, saying "there's been enough time" in between the original ending and present day.
"Maybe we should really re-examine it as a brand," he explained on the And That's What You Really Missed podcast, hosted by McHale and Glee co-star Jenna Ushkowitz. "You know, should we do a reboot of it in some way? Should we do a Broadway musical of it in some way?"
In the meantime, Glee is available to stream on Hulu.