‘Rugrats’: Will the Original Voice Actors Be Returning For the Reboot on Paramount+?
When many people think of classic Nickelodeon shows, Rugrats is often at the top of that list. The popular cartoon from the 1990s connected with kids as well as it did with adults and taught many important life lessons. And now, a new generation of young children will get to grow up with an all-new take on Rugrats.
‘Rugrats’ was one of Nickelodeon’s most popular cartoons
Rugrats centered around a group of babies and their (mis)adventures around their homes and neighborhood. The core gang consisted of Tommy Pickles, Chuckie Finster, and twins Phil and Lil DeVille, as well Tommy’s spoiled cousin Angelica, Chuckie’s stepsister Kimi Finster, and neighbor Susie Carmichael.
Among other things, Rugrats explored several deep topics that children are rarely exposed to on TV. Chuckie, for example, deals with grief and his reckoning with having a new stepmother and stepsister. Tommy learns about anxiety thanks to his sippy cup. And many cultural institutions such as the holiday of Kwanzaa were taught to children who watched the show.
‘Rugrats’ is returning with a new series on Paramount+
Nickelodeon and Paramount first announced in 2018 that Rugrats would be the latest ’90s show to get the reboot treatment. Original creators Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain were also confirmed to return to the series as executive producers.
The show will revisit the world of the Rugrats, this time in the form of live-action CGI animation rather than traditional animation. The original characters will be making a grand return, and a new crop of kids will also be joining the fray.
The new Rugrats was set to premiere in 2020 but was pushed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rugrats — along with the forthcoming Blue’s Clues, Rocko’s Modern Life, and Invader Zim projects — will stream exclusively on Paramount+.
Will ‘Rugrats’ original voice actors reprise their roles?
What many people loved about the original Rugrats series is the voices behind the iconic characters. Luckily for original fans — many of whom may have kids of their own by now — the animation may be different, but their voices will remain the same.
Original voice actors E.G. Daily (Tommy), Nancy Cartwright (Chuckie), Kath Soucie (Phil and Lil), Cheryl Chase (Angelica), Cree Summer (Susie), and Melanie Chartoff (Tommy’s mother Didi) will all be reprising their roles in the upcoming revival. The only ones who won’t be returning are Michael Bell (Angelica’s father Drew, Chuckie’s father Chas, and Tommy’s grandfather Boris) and Phil Proctor (Phil and Lil’s father Howard).
And that’s not all: original theme song composers Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh confirmed that the new series will feature new music, including the theme song.
