The 'American Idol' Reboot Is Heading To ABC In 2018 (UPDATED)

UPDATE — May 9:

Start preparing your auditions: “American Idol” is officially heading to ABC in 2018. The news was confirmed in an Instagram post from the show’s official account.

The news was also announced during “Good Morning America” Tuesday morning.

Longtime “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest, who is now busy as co-host of “Live with Kelly and Ryan” — along with roughly a thousand other jobs — said he wasn’t sure whether he could return,per People.

“I had no idea it was being talked about to come here until late last week I heard a rumor in the news and made a phone call,” he said to co-host Kelly Ripa, “and they said, ‘Yeah, it may actually end up here.’ And I said, ‘Well, that’s kind of good to know since I work here.’”

In conclusion: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

PREVIOUSLY:

“Idol” will remain idle no more.

Anexclusive reportfrom Variety reveals that ABC has a deal in place to revive the singing competition show, which ended its 15-season run on Fox in 2016. TMZsaidSaturday that the deal is complete and will be announced next week at the network’s upfronts, where new shows are showcased for ad buyers.

The new iteration of “American Idol” has a tentative premiere date of next March, potentially for Sunday nights. There’s no word yet on which musical heavy-hitters might show up as judges.

In its heyday in the mid-2000s, “Idol”pulled in numbersupwards of 20 million viewers an episode, earning a series high of 38 million viewers during the Season 2 finale with contestants Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard. Ratings stumbled in the show’s later years, with the final seasonaveraging9.3 million viewers.

In February, Variety reported thatNBC was eyeing an “Idol” reboot, but concluded that the network ultimately passed to avoid competition with its other singing competition series “The Voice,” now in its 12th season.

The biggest question for “Idol” fans remains: WouldRyan Seacrestreturn as host? Thebusiestman in show business, who justscooped up a high-profile gig as Kelly Ripa’s morning show co-host on ABC, emceed “Idol” during its 15 years on television. Seacrest also has nationally syndicated radio shows with iHeartMedia and red carpet hosting duties for E! Network, and he serves as executive producer for several reality shows.

Entertainment Tonight reports thatthere have been no formal discussionswith Seacrest to return as host if the ABC deal goes through.