Kelsey Grammer talks about David Hyde Piece’s absence as Niles in the upcoming Frasier reboot and how it forces him to change his character.
Kelsey Grammer talks about how the absence of Niles in the Frasier reboot changes the titular character. Despite being recruited to return for the Paramount+ show, David Hyde Pierce decided to sit out the revival, not wanting to re-do his brilliant portrayal of Niles Crane. That shouldn’t have been surprising, considering he previously revealed that he is against rebooting the critically-acclaimed series. Niles’ absence will get factored in the Frasier revival because of how integral he was to the original show.
In a new interview with The Independent, Grammer shares how the youngest Crane brother’s situation forces Frasier to make some changes. Read his full quote below:
“Frasier’s going to explore a true friendship, which we never had him do before. David Hyde Pierce as Niles was his go-to – that is not available now. So the idea of a great friend became really appealing and new to Frasier. That’s a brand new world for him. “This friend is played by Nicholas Lyndhurst, who is arguably one of the great actors of the UK. He’s become a great, great friend of mine personally.”
Can Niles Still Appear In The Frasier Revival?
Grammer has been hyping the upcoming show’s new cast amid skepticism about not having any series regulars from the Seatte-based series as mainstays. Both Bebe Neuwirth and Roz Gilpin are set to return but only as guest stars. The show’s biggest absence, however, is Pierce’s Niles, who was the stand-out from the original series. Despite this, Grammer claims the Frasier revival may be funnier than its predecessor.
Assembling a new ensemble surrounding Frasier is tricky, and it’s promising that Grammer seems to have found the right people for the job. There’s no denying that there are still hopes that Pierce’s Niles and even Jane Leeves’ Daphne make a surprise appearance. It is highly unlikely that they will become series regulars, but a cameo would be more than enough to excite viewers. However, it also doesn’t work narratively if the Frasier revival doesn’t reference Frasier’s brother, especially in light of Martin’s passing.
For now, it doesn’t seem like there are any plans to bring Niles, which means he will likely be absent in the first season of the Frasier reboot. If the show gets picked up for additional seasons and the response from the public is positive, Pierce may just be convinced to finally get involved. In the meantime, Frasier will have to rely on his new family and friends as he starts his fourth act in Boston.
