David Hyde Pierce discloses his reasons for declining the Frasier reboot
The actor portraying Frasier's brother, Niles, expressed, "I never truly harbored a desire to return."
David Hyde Pierce has disclosed the reason behind his refusal to join the reboot of the sitcom Frasier. Renowned for portraying Niles, the brother of Kelsey Grammer’s character Dr Frasier Crane, in the original Frasier spanning from 1993 to 2004, Pierce shed light on his decision.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Pierce clarified his stance on not returning to the show, stating, “I never truly desired to revisit that world. It’s not that I outright rejected the idea. I cherished every moment of it,” he added. “But I was eager to explore other pursuits.”
Pierce, who also embodies the role of Paul Child in the Julia Child biopic series Julia, cited pre-existing commitments as another factor influencing his decision.
When discussions about the reboot began, I had recently commenced work on the Julia TV show, alongside involvement in a musical production and plans for another. It struck me that committing to a show might limit opportunities like these. Furthermore, I realised that my presence wasn’t crucial; Frasier had evolved into a new realm with fresh characters, and it seemed to thrive without me. The current direction is impressive, and the new cast members are exceptional.
(Paramount/Getty)
It was previously stated that the original plan for the Frasier reboot involved the return of Pierce to reprise his role as Niles, as revealed by showrunners Joe Cristalli and Chris Harris in their interview with Vulture.
Their initial concept for the new series centred on Frasier and Niles jointly managing a theatre, akin to their venture of revitalising a restaurant in the season two episode ‘The Innkeepers’.
Cristalli mentioned, “For a considerable period, the notion was that Frasier and Niles would oversee a black-box theatre. However, without Niles, it became challenging to proceed with that vision.”
The writers contemplated portraying Niles as “the new Maris,” akin to the elusive character of Niles’s wife in the original Frasier series, frequently referenced but never seen on screen. Ultimately, they deemed this idea too peculiar to pursue.
They also disclosed that the reboot’s premiere intended to commence in Seattle, mirroring the original series’ setting, with the narrative starting at Martin Crane’s funeral. However, the absence of Pierce and Leeves made it impractical to depict this, deeming it both emotionally challenging and implausible.
The recent finale of the Frasier reboot aired last week. Alongside Pierce, fellow Frasier regular Jane Leeves also opted not to return. Nevertheless, Peri Gilpin, portraying Roz, and Cheers star Bebe Neuwirth, as Frasier’s ex-wife Lilith, made guest appearances. John Mahoney, who portrayed Frasier and Niles’s father Martin, passed away in 2018.
