Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson talk about the obstacles to making a Gilmore Girls spinoff

While many fans would be thrilled by a Gilmore Girls spinoff, both the WB series stars Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson think it wouldn't work. In an E! News exclusive article published on December 8, 2024, Graham and Patterson shared their insights on why they aren't keen about making a spinoff TV show.

Lauren Graham said that the popular way of bringing back a well-loved series is making a prequel, suggesting that they could do a "high school Lorelai." However, she added that there are plenty of obstacles in order to do that:

"You have the problem of you [of who] got to cast [as] young Babette and younger Miss Patty, so I don't know."

Scott Patterson mentioned that a conversation with WB's then-president Peter Roth opened his eyes to why a Gilmore Girls spinoff wouldn't be the fantastic project anyone would expect. He said:

"I brought this up to Peter Roth once advocating for my own spinoff and he told me something steeped in TV history wisdom."

About bringing up a possible Gilmore Girls spinoff set at his character Luke Danes' diner, Patterson added:

"He [Roth] said, 'Scott, people would miss the other characters so much, because the show is so chock full of rich, wonderful characters.'"

He added it was "a smart thing" for Roth to say and that he was right.

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Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson's Lorelai and Luke's Walmart ad sparked Gilmore Girls spinoff chatter

Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson, along with Sean Gunn, gave Gilmore Girls fans an early Christmas present. The members of Stars Hollow reunited for a new Walmart ad, reigniting the chatter and longing for a Gilmore Girls spinoff.

The commercial played after the events of the 2016 reboot series Gilmore Girls: A Year In the Life.

In the ad, Gunn reprised his role as Kirk Gleason, attempting to carry an enormous Walmart package through the snow. Meanwhile, Lauren Graham returned as Lorelai, in all her caffeinated energy, storming into Scott Patterson's Luke's diner.

Like her iconic line in the series, Lorelai demands, "Coffee, coffee, coffee," before Luke hands hers a Walmart Keurig coffee maker.

Like always, the scene didn't go without Luke's quip about Lorelai drinking him out of business. The ad wraps up with Lorelai and Luke standing together in the town square as snow falls softly around them.

Before the release of the 30-second Walmart ad, Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson reflected on the mini-reunion of their characters. They spoke to People on December 3, with Graham admitting that it's "always a little surreal" to return to Stars Hollow.

As for Patterson, he said that the highlight of doing the ad was working alongside Graham again, whom he said is his "favorite scene partner" in his entire career.

As the ad increases the chatter for a Gilmore Girls spinoff, the two stars shared what they think about where Lorelai and Luke are now. They agreed that there wouldn't be a lot of change between Lorelai and Luke even after many years, and she would still be running an inn or maybe a second one and still hitting Luke up daily for her caffeine fix.