‘Growing Pains’ Reunion 2025 — Is It Happening?

By Bryan Murray
Washington
Last updated on November 21, 2024

Growing Pains Reunion, the one we've been wanting for 7 years?

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Rumors of a Growing Pains reunion had the internet in a frenzy on Wednesday (November 20) as reports claimed that ABC confirmed a revival of the popular sitcom for 2025.

UPDATE 21/11/2024 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Can you believe it's been 39 years since Growing Pains first aired?! (39 years, 1 month, 28 days to be exact.)

Why in the world did Growing Pains end?

When Growing Pains came to an end after 7 years in April 1992, million viewers tuned in to say goodbye to Luke Brower (Leonardo DiCaprio), Jason Seaver (Alan Thicke) and Mike Seaver (Kirk Cameron). And since then, they have been itching for a reunion.

Growing Pains without Jason Seaver?

After the tragic passing of Alan Thicke in 2016 how are the writers going to handle the absence of Jason Seaver. It seems pretty hard to imagine. “The right thing to do for the show, at least at this point, is to have that character pass,” a source close to the production says.

Would a Growing Pains reunion disappoint people?

Growing Pains aired from 1985-1992 and is considered one of the most influential TV shows ever on pop culture. Although no original episodes have been shot since, it has remained a regular feature on many station's schedules. But DiCaprio said he's not sure if Growing Pains would work today. “I don't want to see old Luke Brower,” he told a journalist (DiCaprio turned 50 in November). “Everyone’s going to have different vision of what the character is like, so to have that materialize is going to disappoint most people,” he added.

Still hoping for a Growing Pains movie?

In a recent interview, Kirk Cameron said he can't imagine a Growing Pains reunion hitting the big screen. “I'd rather people go, ‘Oh, please! Please!’ than ‘I can't believe you did that. It was horrible.’”

Co-star Ashley Johnson (who played Chrissy Seaver between 1988 and 1992) has also previously explained, “It would be terrible to do something and have it not be good,”. “It was so terrific ... If we did a Growing Pains movie and it sucked, then it would, you know, blemish it.”

On the subject of whether there could be a Growing Pains film, Leonardo DiCaprio stated : “I think it's a bit of a case of ‘the book is better than the movie’.”

What about a Growing Pains reboot?

Recasting Growing Pains for a modern reboot. Hollywood is known for remaking remakes of films or tv series and the studios might think it would be great to bring the story back with a new set of characters.

Be it in the form of a Growing Pains reunion, a Growing Pains movie, or a Growing Pains reboot, if you had to start filming today, who would you cast in what role?