Frasier: David Hyde Pierce reveals why he chose not to return for the Paramount+ reboot

When David Hyde Pierce said he would not return for the acclaimed Frasier reboot, fans lamented the absence of one of the show’s most beloved characters. While Hollywood runs rampant with stories about shady behind-the-scenes scuffles, creative differences, and stars who can’t stand working alongside one another, Pierce wants everyone to know his reasons for not reprising his iconic role as Niles Crane are not nearly as nefarious.

Speaking with the Los Angeles Times while discussing Here We Are, the Stephen Sondheim/David Ives musical in which Pierce appears, the Frasier favorite came clean about his lack of participation in the Paramount+ revival series.

“I never really wanted to go back,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “It’s not like I said, ‘Oh, I don’t ever want to do that again.’ I loved every moment. It was that I wanted to do other things. And when we got into real talks about the reboot, I had just started on the ‘Julia’ TV show and was working on a musical and going to do another musical, not this one. And I just thought, ‘I don’t want to be committed to a show and not be able to do stuff like this.’ And I also thought, ‘They don’t actually need me.’ Frasier has moved on to a new world. They have new characters. And I think I’m right. It’s doing great. And the new people they have are great.”

The Frasier reboot “follows Frasier Crane in the next chapter of his life as he returns to Boston with new challenges to face, new relationships to forge and an old dream or two to fulfill finally.”

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month, Grammer said he expects the reboot to last for “several years to come.” 

“I believe we have a home at Paramount+ for several years to come, and we certainly have several ideas for it.” He added that the Hollywood strikes, which stalled numerous projects but thankfully have settled, have played a role in the development. “It’s just what’s fleshing out, and we’re not sure yet because the writers went on strike, then the actors stayed on strike, and everything just sort of stalled. At least we got the episodes in under the wire before we had to just lock down.”

As for what Kelsey Grammer hopes subsequent seasons of Frasier will offer fans, he said, “But where our future is, of course, we’re going to explore the relationship between the father and the son, and that’s natural. Then involve the other characters as well. Was it intentional? Yeah, of course. Because the first few episodes of any new television show, it needs to be sort of dedicated to the idea of allowing the audience to fall in love with the new characters. I believe that’s finally started to take shape. Now we have the luxury of saying, well, let’s branch off into this area, branch off into that area, go a little heavier on this storyline, focus a little bit more on this member of the cast or members of the cast.”

The fate of Fraiser Season 2 remains a mystery, but an announcement could happen after the first season ends. Do you want more Frasier in 2024? Do you hope Pierce finds time to film a guest spot for the reboot? Let us know in the comments section below.