Frasier Reboot: Kelsey Grammer Reveals Real Reason Why David Hyde Pierce Won’t Reprise Role as Niles Crane

Fans will see the return of Kelsey Grammer as the much-loved Dr. Frasier Crane in the upcoming Frasier reboot on Paramount+. However, not all of the series’ original characters will return, like David Hyde Pierce.

Pierce played the role of Frasier’s brother, Dr. Niles Crane, for 11 seasons. So, why won’t he reprise his role on the Frasier reboot?

Kesley Grammer Discusses David Hyde Pierce’s Non-Appearance in Frasier Reboot

In an interview with People, Grammer revealed why Pierce decided not to reprise his role in the upcoming reboot.

“David basically decided he wasn’t really interested in repeating the performance of Niles,” he said.

Pierce himself hinted earlier that he had no plans to join the Frasier reboot.

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“That whole time of my life [doing Frasier] is deeply important to me. And I would never disrespect that in such a way as to say just offhandedly, ‘Oh, no, thanks. I’m not going to do that again.’ It’s too valuable to me,” he told Vulture in June.

“But by the same token, because it’s so valuable to me, I also wouldn’t do it just to do it,” he continued. “And I believe it can be done without me, too — finding new stories to tell, in the same way that Frasier did after Cheers.”

The New Path Frasier Reboot Will Go

Despite Pierce’s absence, Grammer revealed they had worked out the Frasier reboot’s casting, and it took them to a new path.

"In a very funny way, it just took us to a new place, which was what we originally wanted to do anyway, which was a Fraser third act," he continued. "It's an entirely new life for him."

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Fans are about to see their favorite psychiatrist living in a new city alone.

"He's our brave little soldier that continues on in life, finding new challenges and a new love and new people and a new city and stuff like that," Grammer described. "I'm really very excited about it, and we'll certainly always honor the past. We have to honor the fact that John Mahoney died, and that Martin is no longer with us. We'll be dealing with that for sure."

Aside from Niles, the actor revealed the show would also address the absence of the other original characters, like Roz (Peri Gilpin) and Daphne (Jane Leeves).

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"We'll certainly be responsive about the fact that there was a brother and such," he added. "But the new world for Frasier is one of new friendships — and some new twists and turns he didn't know were still in there."

For more of the Frasier reboot news, stay tuned to EpicStream!