The most influential fashion icon of the 90s is coming back to TV, and we’re not talking about Winona Ryder (although she kind of already has with Stranger Things), Tyra Banks, or anybody who’s an actual flesh and bone human, really: Ms. Frizzle, whose fabulous dresses were as wild as her incredibly immersive, science-heavy field trips, will be making a comeback thanks to Netflix, and this The Magic School Bus reboot will likely happen sooner rather than later (via Good Housekeeping).
It’s not yet clear how much about the new show has changed since it was announced as The Magic School Bus 360° in 2014 and given an ETA of 2016, but at the time, the show was said to be produced with CG animation. These facts have been re-confirmed by Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos in an interview with The New York Times, so the show (then slated for 26 half-hour episodes) definitely won’t look like the one you remember.
We do know that the titular bus has been updated with more modern tools and the kids will make use of advanced technologies, like “a smart suit worn by the character Carlos that determines his body’s vital signs instantly.”
The cast has yet to be confirmed, but hopefully Lily Tomlin reprises her role as Ms. Frizzle, which could happen, as producer Stu Stone said many original cast members are returning to the new series. Celebrities like Dolly Parton, Eartha Kitt, Dan Marino, and others made guest appearances on the first series, and Stone said that trend will continue with 360°: “There are tons of cameos planned. I know that there are big stars who want to be involved in this, and there’s a whole generation of people who grew up on this series that want to be a part of it now that it’s back.”
We’ll bring you more news about the new series as it’s revealed, but in the meantime, take a quick nostalgia trip with the original theme song below, and if that’s not enough, the series of our childhoods is streaming on Netflix right now.
Featured image: Scholastic
