Gossip Girl fans hail Leighton Meester's 'HBO era' as she announces surprise new role
Leighton Meester has been announced as a guest star in a pilot for a brand new comedy series, much to the delight of her loyal fanbase, who took to social media to express their excitement
Gossip Girl enthusiasts, get ready for a treat - Leighton Meester is set to grace the small screen once again in a brand new comedy series on HBO, as reported by Variety.
She'll be joining forces with social media sensation Quenlin Blackwell and actress Rachel Sennott in the pilot, which was snapped up by the network back in March. The star-studded cast also includes Odessa A'zion, Jordan Firstman, Miles Robbins, and True Whitaker.
Rachel Sennott isn't just leading the cast; she's pulling double duty as a writer and executive producer for the pilot. Directing and executive producing duties fall to Lorene Scafaria, with Emma Barrie and Aida Rodgers also on the executive production team.
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The show' follows "a co-dependent friend group" who reunite and are "navigating how the time apart, ambition, and new relationships have changed them," reports the Daily Star.
TikTok star and influencer Quenlin Blackwell is poised to make her acting debut in the series, bringing with her a massive online following that includes over 9.8 million TikTok fans, 2.3 million Instagram devotees, and nearly 1.5 million YouTube subscribers.
Reddit has been abuzz with anticipation from die-hard Leighton Meester fans. One excited fan shared: "So excited to see Leighton Meester popping up in more things recently, I've missed her, she's so talented! " Meanwhile, another admirer commented: "I'm re-watching Gossip Girl and she's such a gem. It's impressive how she can switch from drama to comedy so seamlessly."
One fan excitedly posted: "Leighton Meester employment at HBO Era... oh we are BACK back girlies." Another chimed in: "Leighton, my queen. So happy to see her in more projects. She deserves all the success."
A third follower enthused: "Can't wait to see Leighton Meester in more comedy series! She was great on how I met your father and parents [sic]." Leighton is most recognised for her portrayal of Blair Wardorf in Gossip Girl, which aired from 2007 to 2012.
Recently, she's been keeping herself busy, featuring in the direct-to-video thriller film River Wild and the festive rom-com EXmas, both of which premiered last year. The actress also has a recurring role as Meredith in How I Met Your Father, the spin-off to the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother.