Frasier Reboot: Why David Hyde Pierce Won’t Return as Niles

When Frasier returns as Paramount+ Revival, it will be omitted the little brother of the eponymous radio host. In a new interview, series star Kelsey Grammer sheds light on David Hyde Pierce’s decision not to revisit his character from the long run cheers spin off.

“David basically decided he wasn’t really interested in repeating Niles’ performance,” Grammer told People.

In June, Pierce Vulture hinted that he might not be ready for the continuation of the series.

“All the time of my life [doing Frasier] is deeply important to me. And I would never disregard that to the point of just casually saying, ‘Oh no thanks. I won’t do that again.’ It’s too valuable for me,” he said at the time. “But for the same reason because It’s so valuable to me, I wouldn’t do it just to do it. And I think it can be done without me – in the same way finding new stories to tell Frasier did afterwards cheers.”

Grammer elaborates that there was a positive side to Pierce’s decision not to revisit his lovable, tricky alter ego. “In a very fun way, it just took us to a new place, which is what we originally wanted to do anyway, which is a Frasier third act,” says Grammer in an interview. “It’s a whole new life for him.”

The revival, which Paramount+ ordered in October, will see Frasier restart in a new town with a new cast of characters. Grammer adds that the show will explain Niles’ absence, as well as that of original series mainstays Daphne and Roz. (John Mahoney, who played Frasier’s father Martin Crane, died in 2018; Grammer has said the show will address it in its first episode.)

Frasier ran for 11 seasons and won five Emmys for Best Comedy Series. In addition to starring in the revival, Grammer will also star alongside Chris Harris (How I met your mother) and Joe Cristalli (life in pieces) writing the scripts. The series is said to have 10 episodes.