Millennials who grew up watching Drake Bell and Josh Peck get into all kinds of antics on Drake and Josh will be delighted to hear that the duo has been workshopping ideas for a possible reboot.
Despite the pair’s rocky relationship in recent years, with Bell calling Peck out at one point for not sending him a wedding invite, that’s all water under the bridge. Not only are the TV brothers on good terms again, but they both seem eager to revisit their classic Nickelodeon characters. Bell recently revealed to Metro that they’ve been talking about a Drake and Josh revival, and that Peck actually has the perfect idea for a reboot that would avoid the college years/where are they now cliches.
“It would have to be like, for Josh and I to get back together, it would have to be something different,” Bell tells Metro. “I’d want to do something that’s more creative than that and I know Josh would too.”
“Actually Josh, I can’t tell the idea, but it’s really good,” he adds. “Josh came up with a little something that I think is probably the most genius and absolute most brilliant way to bring us back.”
Drake Bell talks Drake and Josh reboot possibilities
As for what’s preventing a Drake and Josh reunion, it all has to do with timing. Bell, who’s a touring musician as well, admits that he’s only in Los Angeles for a few weeks out of the year, so getting the gang back together would be a little tough.
“It’s just scheduling and everything,” Bell says. “If the stars align, I would do it in a heartbeat.”
In addition to reuniting with Peck, Bell reveals that he would want the show’s creator, Dan Schneider, to return as well. That may be even harder than getting schedules figured out, as Schneider—who was also the mastermind behind All That, The Amanda Show, Zoey 101, iCarly and countless hit Nickelodeon shows—was recently let go by the network. “I definitely want Dan Schneider to write it, who did the show,” Bell says.
Should everything fall into place, though, Bell thinks “it would be by far the best reboot.” “Fuller House ain’t got nothing on this,” he says.
In the meantime, Bell is focusing on his music and giving back. The actor and musician is headlining a benefit show for the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting on Tuesday night in Orlando.
The tragedy had a huge impact on Bell, who has family in the Orlando area. His friend Christina Grimmie was also killed during another shooting in the city at her concert, just days before the Pulse incident.
“Orlando is really close to me,” Bell says. “It just hit us like a ton of bricks.”
Aside from the benefit show, Bell is also working on new music that channels his eclectic musical tastes, including Latin-infused tracks geared towards his Spanish-speaking fans, as well as trap-heavy songs that stem from his work with hip-hop moguls like Tank God, who produced “Rockstar” for Post Malone, and Cassius Clay, who produced Rich the Kid’s album.
Bell is also pals with Lil Pump, and recently created an acoustic cover for the rapper’s hit song “Gucci Gang.” What started out as a joke track quickly became a fan-favorite song for Bell at his concerts.
“I started playing it at concerts just as a joke, then people started requesting it,” Bell says. “People were showing up with signs that would say ‘Play Gucci Gang,’ and ‘You’re the Gucci god.’ It was so funny.”
As for what’s next for Bell on the stage or screen, you never know. Bell hopes to try even more new things with his work, even if it’s just to stave off his boredom.
“I call it evolving. I think it’s just boredom,” Bell says. “I’m always trying to work on new projects, new sounds.”
