There have been rumours for a few months that some sort of return to the world of The L Word might be in the works. Now it’s official, as it’s been revealed that the US cable network Showtime is backing a sequel to the original show.

The L Word ran from 2004 to 2009, gaining a legion of fans who followed the live of a group of LGBT women in LA, as well as their friends and family. Some of those beloved characters will return for the new run, as Jennifer Beals (Bette), Kate Moennig (Shane) and Leisha Hailey (Alice) are all onboard both to star and executive produce.

Other than them, it appears the revived series will mainly revolve around new characters, although THR says that Erin Daniels (Dana), Laurel Holloman (Tina), Mia Kirshner (Jenny), Sarah Shahi (Carmen) and Pam Grier (Kit) may appear in some form.

Ilene Chaiken, who created the show, is involved as an executive producer, but Showtime is currently looking for a showrunner and writer to take control of the new show. They are apparently hoping to find someone with ties to the lesbian community, who will be able to ensure the new L Word properly reflects the changes that have taken place for LGBT people in the 13 years since the show first started airing.

The L Word was US TV’s first drama centred around lesbians. Over the course of its six seasons it included ‘storylines about equality, legal marriage and benefits, and HIV/AIDS, as well as a transgender storyline that saw Daniela Sea’s Moira transition to Max in an era well before Amazon’s breakout Transparent’. It’s not known when the sequel show will hit screens.