‘The Game’ Reboot Is NOT Moving Forward On The CW

‘The Game’ Reboot Is NOT Moving Forward On The CW

Fans of “The Game” were stoked to find out the series is coming back for another play. It ended on BET after nine seasons in 2015. Its first three seasons were on The CW, and the show seemed to come to an end for good in 2009. But it was revived roughly two years later on BET for six more seasons.

Now, “The Game” is getting back on the field, but according to reports,  it won’t be on its original home network. It was previously reported that The CW greenlighted an hourlong reboot. But instead of being the show that featured the San Diego Sabers, it would take place in New York City and feature some of the original cast.

Mara Brock Akil

The CW reportedly opted out of housing the return of the series but hasn’t ruled out the idea to restructure it with one of its original creator Mara Brock Akil. Still, she refused to move forward with any redevelopments, especially without Devon Gregory, who would have served as co-creator of the new series.

It’s not clear if Mara Brock Akil and Devon Gregory will continue to shop around the idea, or what the future holds for “The Game”, if anything.

“The Game” was originally a spinoff to Mara Brock Akil’s super successful series “Girlfriends”, which ran from September 2000 to February 2008 on The CW.

“The Game” told the story of Melanie Barnett (played by Tia Mowry) giving up her dreams of an East Coast Ivy League medical school to follow her boyfriend Derwin Davis (played by Pooch Hall) to San Diego after he’s drafted by a fictional team, the San Diego Sabers. The show also starred Wendy Raquel Robinson, Brittany Daniel, Colby Bell, and Hosea Chanchez. 

Tia Mowry and Derwin Davis exited the show after season 5. Tia Mowry revealed on her then reality show Tia & Tamera, that the show’s execs wanted to decrease her character to recurring, so she decided to walk away for good. She and Pooch Hall did return for cameos in the final season.

Pooch Hall also called out the show back then.

He said on The Tom Joyner Morning Show in 2013,

“For the record, I didn’t get fired. I didn’t walk away. My contract came up, I promise you. We were negotiating and we just couldn’t come up with a number. So my team said we’re going to send you out [on auditions]. I literally just got back from New York, I think I did “Rip the Runway” and I booked “Ray Donovan” the next day. “

“I never quit, and this is what I want people to understand. When “The Game” first got canceled I got another job on “Accidentally on Purpose.” I made a deal and when “Accidentally on Purpose” g0t canceled, I had two years where I could work over there. I believe everyone else got three. We were trying to work on the numbers and we couldn’t’ agree and my team said we’re sending him out and I literally booked “Ray Donovan” a week [later].

And then Showtime was like – it’s cable so they can do things differently – I can still do “The Game.” I told [my agent] ‘I’ll take the deal [at BET].’ They never returned my agent’s phone calls or emails for a long time. I couldn’t understand it. I’ve never done anything wrong over there. It’s all good. I think I’m where I’m supposed to be.”

They were seemingly replaced with Lauren London and Jay Ellis who joined the cast as a new couple. Singer and actress Brandy also scored a recurring role in the final days of the series on BET.

Lauren London, Jay Ellis, Hosea Chanchez, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Colby Bell, Brandy