Lauren Graham, Amy Sherman Palladino Reveal New Gilmore Girls Project

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Lorelai Gilmore is planning a cozy trip to Stars Hollow. 

As a huge fan, I was thrilled to hear that Lauren Graham and Amy Sherman-Palladino are finally collaborating on a book based on Gilmore Girls! It’s been almost twenty years since the show ended, and this feels like a dream come true. They’re both working on it together, which makes it even more exciting!

Lauren Graham announced on Instagram that she and Alexis Bledel are writing a new Gilmore Girls book. She shared some old photos of them together from the set of the show and playfully told fans to ‘Get your coffee ready!’

Celadon Books, part of Macmillan, will publish the new book. It will tell the story of how the show – a fast-paced, funny drama set in a small town – became so popular and influential.

Lauren Graham and Amy Sherman-Palladino share a personal and revealing look at their working relationship and the inspiration behind Lorelai Gilmore and the town of Stars Hollow. According to People, the book includes funny stories, thoughtful insights, and never-before-heard details from the set, showing how the series became a beloved classic through its humor, warmth, and unique chemistry.

Lauren has often expressed her affection for her character, and previously shared memories of filming the Netflix revival, A Year in the Life, in her 2016 memoir, Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls. She’s continued to make cherished memories, like recently reuniting with Alexis Bledel—who played her daughter Rory Gilmore—at the Emmy Awards in September 2025.

Because the actor from Parenthood is someone she cares about, Amy felt this new project needed Lauren’s perspective to be truly finished.

Let me tell you, I’m always up for anything with Lauren Graham! Seriously, anything at all. I said just recently that whether it’s grabbing a fun lunch at Joe Allen’s or even co-writing a book, I’m immediately in. I just adore her and honestly, I’d love to be in her orbit forever. She’s that wonderful to be around!

She joked, “Not sure it’s healthy, for either of us, but it’s just the reality of the situation.”

Want to refresh your memory of Gilmore Girls before the new book comes out? Read on for behind-the-scenes details about the show…

The charming town of Stars Hollow, the setting for the popular show, was actually inspired by a trip creator Amy Sherman-Palladino took to Washington, Connecticut. She was captivated by the town’s friendly locals, unique customs, and a particularly memorable inn, and left with the initial idea for the series – even some lines from the first episode were born from that visit.

Sherman-Palladino told Deseret News she hoped to create the same magical feeling for viewers that she experienced while exploring the town that inspired her show. “If I could give people even a fraction of what I felt,” she said, “that would be amazing.”

Alexis Bledel was a relatively unknown actress, with just one minor acting credit, and was still a student at NYU when she tried out for the part of Rory.

Alexis Bledel remembered being quite ill while attending NYU, but she kept getting called back for auditions. She said she went in about six times! Surprisingly, she wasn’t very experienced as an actor and didn’t fully understand the audition process. She admitted to getting a little frustrated and even having some attitude, which the casting director actually loved. Bledel recalled the director saying she was exactly what they were looking for, and Bledel playfully asking if they would keep calling her back – which the director confirmed was exactly what she wanted.

3. Gilmore Girls without Lauren Graham as Lorelai? Unimaginable, right? But it almost happened.

In her 2016 book, Talking As Fast As I Can, Alexis Bledel (credited as ‘Graham’ in the source) recalls receiving the script for the Gilmore Girls pilot while in New York. She was house-sitting for a friend and anxiously awaiting news about her recently completed NBC series, M.Y.O.B., to see if it would be renewed for another season.

Luckily, the show M.Y.O.B. wasn’t developed, which meant Graham could star as the quick-witted lead – a beneficial outcome for any other actress who was being considered for the role as well.

She described a rare and intense connection she feels when reading a script she truly loves. It’s like instantly recognizing a kindred spirit, combined with an overwhelming desire to protect and claim the character as her own.

As a casting expert, I remember Scott Patterson walking into the audition for the role of Luke Danes and absolutely nailing it. He was the only actor we needed to see! He brought this wonderful mix of charm and grumpiness to the diner owner, and we all instantly knew he was perfect – not just for the role, but as Lorelai’s future husband too. It was a truly memorable audition.

According to casting director Jill Anthony, Amy declared she didn’t need to audition any other actors, stating, ‘He’s exactly what we’re looking for.’ She shared this with Vanity Fair.

But Patterson never thought he was going to sport Luke’s signature hat and flannel shirts. 

The actor told Glamour that it was their second audition of the day, having already done three. They’d only practiced one scene when they were expected to know two, but they just went ahead and performed anyway. At that point, they didn’t even care about getting the part – they knew Gilmore Girls was destined for bigger stars. The script was just too well-written, especially the pilot, and they figured there was no point in trying. They were already running late for another audition and worried about getting a parking ticket, so they politely asked if they could leave.

Before Jared Padalecki became famous as Dean Forester, Rory’s first boyfriend on the show, two other Canadian actors were let go. The character of Dean had been changed to be more mainstream, according to an interview with Vanity Fair.

Both Ryan Gosling and Chris Pine tried out for the show. Casting director Jami Rudofsky revealed at the 2015 ATX TV Festival that Gosling’s audition for a minor role didn’t go well.

Chris Pine shared that his father, actor Robert Pine, helped him land his very first professional audition, though he doesn’t recall what the role was. In a video interview with W Magazine, he jokingly speculated it might have been for a boyfriend role.

Despite becoming a major comedy star, Melissa McCarthy initially faced resistance when Amy Sherman-Palladino cast her as the quirky chef Sookie. Sherman-Palladino explained at the 2015 ATX TV Festival reunion that some people were hesitant because McCarthy brought a unique energy to the role. The character wasn’t written with any specific physical characteristics in mind, and Sherman-Palladino simply wanted someone genuinely funny and talented. Although she immediately knew McCarthy was perfect, it took a few episodes for everyone else to come around and fully embrace her in the part.

In the original pilot episode, Alex Borstein played Sookie, but she had to leave the show due to her commitments to MADtv. She later made brief appearances as a harpist and stylist. Amy Sherman-Palladino would later cast Borstein in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, where she won two Emmy Awards for her performance.

Interestingly, Jackson Douglas, who was married to Borstein at the time, joined Gilmore Girls in a more regular role. Sherman-Palladino specifically wrote the character of Jackson, Sookie’s farmer boyfriend, with Douglas in mind. Initially planned for just a few episodes, his strong chemistry with Melissa McCarthy led to him staying with the show for all seven seasons.

Liza Weil initially tried out for the part of Rory Gilmore, and although the show’s creators were impressed with her audition, they didn’t think she was quite right for the role. Weil remembered being told that if the show was picked up, they might be able to find something for her to do, but she assumed that was the end of the line. However, the producers didn’t just find a role – they wrote a character specifically for her: Paris Geller, Rory’s rival who eventually becomes her friend. Despite Paris becoming a beloved character, Weil was hesitant at first about playing such a sharp and difficult person.

Looking back, I was shocked by what they wrote,” the How to Get Away With Murder star said with a laugh. “I couldn’t believe they’d even consider it! Now, though, I take it as a compliment and I’m happy it happened.

The incredible on-screen connection between Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham was surprisingly accidental – they didn’t even meet until the first day of filming! Bledel was so inexperienced with acting that Graham would playfully guide her during scenes, even physically helping her to stand in the right spot as her on-screen daughter. As Graham jokingly explained on Today, people often comment on their chemistry, but she’d playfully respond that it was because she was essentially directing Bledel during filming!

Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham famously ate most of the food their characters, Lorelai and Rory, ate on screen – and fans know that was quite a bit! Bledel mentioned on the Today show that she dislikes it when actors pretend to eat. However, Graham revealed that after multiple takes and some stomach upset, they started using spit buckets to manage the large amounts of food.

According to casting director Mara Casey, Alexis Bledel actually dated two of her Gilmore Girls love interests in real life during the show’s run.

Back in 2016, I told Life & Style that we actually considered using Alexis’ real-life boyfriends in the show. She had dated Jared and Milo Ventimiglia, and also an up-and-coming actor from New York named Chris Heuisler, who even appeared as a guest on the show. He was a really nice guy.

Sean Gunn first appeared on Gilmore Girls as the DSL installer, Mick. He later became a regular cast member playing Kirk, known for having a new, quirky job in each episode. Gunn explained the reason for the character name change: creator Amy Sherman-Palladino had simply forgotten she’d already given him a name!

The WB network considered creating a spin-off series starring Milo Ventimiglia. The third-season episode “Here Comes the Son” was essentially a test episode for this new show, which was tentatively titled Windward Circle. It would have followed Jess’ life in Venice Beach, California, but the project was cancelled due to financial issues.

As the seventh season of Gilmore Girls concluded, there was discussion about creating a spin-off series that would focus on Rory’s life as an adult, after Alexis Bledel indicated she wouldn’t be continuing with the show.

Graham told TV Guide that he once definitively said he wouldn’t return to the show. The producers then considered continuing with just Alexis. While he doesn’t want to speak for her, both he and Alexis discussed it and ultimately decided they both wanted to return together, or not at all.

She explained that they’d been considering all options, and for a while, they even discussed her taking on a behind-the-scenes role instead of appearing on screen as much.

When contract talks fell apart, Stars Hollow was stunned to learn that Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband, Daniel Palladino, wouldn’t be back for the seventh and final season of the show.

According to Amy Palladino, the reason they left was simply a disagreement with the studio over a new contract. She and Daniel Palladino explained they had attempted to negotiate a longer-term agreement, but couldn’t reach a deal, as they told TV Guide.

As someone who’s seen a lot of negotiations, let me tell you, deals are rarely simple. There are so many factors at play! In this situation, we weren’t asking for anything outlandish – it wasn’t an impossible request. Honestly, our main concern was simply protecting the integrity of the show, ensuring it could continue to deliver what everyone expected.

Although they had already chosen Dave Rosenthal as their replacement, Amy Sherman-Palladino confessed that handing over control was terrifying, describing it as a “freaking nightmare.”

And she’s since revealed she’s never watched the final season.

For a long time, people speculated about friction between actors Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson, even though their on-screen chemistry as Lorelai and Luke was clear. Many devoted fans thought this tension led to the couple’s breakup in a controversial plotline during season six. However, after the show finished, Graham told TV Guide that these rumors weren’t true.

She acknowledged the situation was exaggerated, but explained she was simply close to David Sutcliffe, who played Christopher on the show. She understood people might have assumed she was giving him preferential treatment because of their friendship, but she insisted that wasn’t the case.

Graham shared the fans’ disappointment and frustration with the way Luke and Lorelai’s relationship concluded in the original series – it felt unresolved and left things open-ended.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Luke and Lorelai, but I didn’t feel their story had a proper conclusion,” she told TV Guide. “It felt unresolved, and we weren’t even sure if it was the end. Amy [Sherman-Palladino] wasn’t involved in the final season, so it didn’t feel like a true ending. It just wasn’t satisfying.

When Amy Sherman-Palladino left the show after its sixth season, the series finale didn’t happen as she’d originally envisioned. She often spoke about this, playfully hinting for years about the “last four words” she had planned to conclude the story of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.

Following the show’s conclusion, almost every interview with Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino included questions about the mysterious final four words. However, they intentionally remained tight-lipped. As Sherman-Palladino explained to Entertainment Weekly, she didn’t want to reveal her ideas because she hoped to revisit them if a movie were ever made. Sharing those details now, she felt, would limit her creative options later on.

When Netflix announced the show’s return in 2016, they confirmed the four-episode series would finally deliver those famous four words fans had been waiting for. You can find all the details about it here, and trust us, it lived up to the hype!

Edward Herrmann and Kelly Bishop, who played Lorelai’s parents Richard and Emily Gilmore, developed a close relationship while working on the show. Herrmann’s wife, Star Herrmann, even jokingly called Bishop her “second wife.” Sadly, Edward Herrmann passed away in 2014 at the age of 71 after a battle with brain cancer. In the final weeks of his life, his wife asked Bishop to come visit him.

She explained to Vanity Fair that she was the only one who came, and that attending was significant to both him and her.

Bishop described the invitation as both a pleasant surprise and bittersweet. During the cast’s reunion panel at the ATX TV Festival, an empty chair was placed on stage as a tribute to Herrmann.

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2025-12-03 22:51