Back in the 90s, coming-of-age series Heartbreak High performed an important act of ambassadorship in exposing the term “rack off” to an international audience.
It was also the quintessential portrait of Gen X Australia: all greasy hair, teen rebellion against the daggy teachers, and those guitar-shredding opening titles. Check them out just below to revisit the original batch of fresh-faced local talent.
Not fresh enough for you? Well how about this: Netflix has confirmed that its’ 2022 reboot of Heartbreak High is currently in production, with a new generation of Sydney teens finding love, friendship, and maybe even *~themselves~* at Hartley High.
The Twitter account for Netflix Australia just released this intimidating photo of the updated series’ young cast: these are our stairs, you can’t sit with us! Go sit near the bins!!
Ayesha A. Madon is front and centre as our main character Amerie: she’s backed by besties Darren (James Majoos), Harper (Asher Yazbincek), and Quinni (Chloe Hayden). Fans (and uninitiated Gen Z newbies) will have to wait until sometime in 2022 to find out how a shocking social discovery changes everything for Amerie, turning her into “an instant pariah” and shaking the school to its core.
🚨 Casting Announcement 🚨
Introducing the #HeartbreakHigh class of 2022! Production is now underway in Sydney for the Netflix reboot of the iconic ‘90s Aussie series. pic.twitter.com/7SMwAoJCNL
— Netflix ANZ (@NetflixANZ) November 21, 2021
Heartbreak High 2022 comes from creator Hannah Carroll Chapman, and producers of Back to the Rafters and Why Are You Like This: the series’ writers include Marieke Hardy, Meyne Wyatt, and Girl Asleep screenwriter Matthew Whittet.
Their whole cast, sporting edgy character names like Ant and Ca$h and Dusty, is full of promising young Australian talent from titles like Thor: Love and Thunder, Rams, The Heights, and multiple performers from the cult teen musical Fangirls. We bet the new Heartbreak High will garner a few dedicated fans of its own now that mega-streamer Netflix is turning its eye to beloved local titles.
They haven’t even had to update the character’s wardrobes too much, since 90s fashion trends are still, somehow, en vogue. Now all we have to do is make some noise to get a gritty Round The Twist reboot underway…
