HBO Revives Girls for Five Episodes
Lena Dunham and Allison Williams discussed the show's public reception at a New York City event ahead of its planned return.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Sex Life
Lena Dunham and Allison Williams spoke at New York City's Swarovski store on Thursday evening about how Girls was received. HBO plans to revive the series for five episodes, with Dunham reprising her role as Hannah Horvath.
Why it matters
Girls premiered in 2012 and drew criticism over its explicit sex scenes and its portrayal of privileged young women in New York City. The revival gives the show's cast and creators a chance to revisit that reception for audiences who have since moved on.
The revival is set at five episodes, a short run compared with the original series. Production is scheduled to begin in 2027, and no premiere date has been announced in the available information.
The players
Lena Dunham
Lena Dunham is the creator and star of Girls, who plays Hannah Horvath and wrote the series' early reception-era essays and commentary.
Allison Williams
Allison Williams is an actress who appeared in Girls and is set to return for the HBO revival.
HBO
HBO is the premium cable network that originally aired Girls and is reviving the series for five episodes.
The details
Dunham said Williams was her first call about joining the revival, before HBO or anyone else was involved. Dunham will reprise her role as Hannah Horvath, and Williams, Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet and Andrew Rannells are also set to return.
Timeline
2012: Girls premiered and drew criticism from media and viewers.
Thursday evening, November 2026: Dunham and Williams spoke at the Swarovski store in New York City.
Earlier in November 2026: HBO's revival of Girls was reported.
2027: Production for the revival is scheduled to begin.
Cultural Revisit
The HBO revival of Girls returns to the 2012 series that drew sharp criticism over its explicit sex scenes and its privileged New York characters. The five-episode run revisits that original reception with the same cast and creator now more than a decade removed from the premiere.
Viewers will be able to watch the revival on HBO once it airs, with the five-episode format making it a shorter commitment than the original seasons. The source data does not specify a streaming platform or release date beyond the 2027 production start.
The takeaway
Revisiting a controversial show years later can reframe how its original criticisms are judged. Readers following the revival can compare the original series with the new episodes to see how its themes have aged.
Further reading
For more on how sexuality and relationships are portrayed on screen, browse the Sex Life section.
