New year, new Gossip Girl. Yes, 2021 is — COVID-willing — the year that has promised us HBO Max's Gossip Girl reboot, which is probably why the show celebrated the new year by sharing the first official Gossip Girl reboot character photos, introducing fans to the new generation of Manhattan's elite.
The reboot's official Instagram page uploaded nine character photos on Jan. 1, each accompanied by one word descriptors of the characters. It's not exactly Gossip Girl-level dirt. But using investigative skills perfected over the course of Gossip Girl's original six season run (and referring to the only other previously released official photo of the cast), I believe I have succeeded in figuring out what makes these kids tick, and how they might relate to the Constance Billard/St. Jude alums we know already.
Let's riff on our new favorite Upper East Siders, shall we?
Julien Calloway
Who Is She?: Julien Calloway, played by Jordan Alexander, is first up, wearing a black ballgown in the character pic. The caption describes Julien as "Influence," which suggests that she is the school's queen bee. This is evidenced by the cast photo of the kids on the steps of the Met, where she is placed in the middle of the group, her white, knee-high boots kicked high in the air.
O.G. Gossip Girl Inspiration: Julien is clearly a Blair Waldorf Season 1 type. With her "influence," she has the power to make or break a student's reputation. And she's not afraid to use it.
Monet de Haan
Who Is She?: Monet de Haan, played by Savannah Smith, is described as "Power," which means one of two things: either she has power, or she craves it. My guess? It's a bit of both. Going back to the photo of the group at the Met, Monet is sitting right next to Julien, looking over at her. She's either second in command or somewhere down the line, and she's looking to be number 1.
O.G. Gossip Girl Inspiration: This one's tricky, but my best guess is that Monet is a mix of Penelope and Georgina. In previously released behind-the-scenes video from set, she's constantly holding her phone, which means she's either always checking Gossip Girl, or she's been known to send in tips herself. Either way, major Georgina Sparks vibes coming off this one.
Luna La
Who Is She?: Luna La (Zion Moreno) is "style," which I can only assume means she's the newest teenager-turned-model and/or fashion designer at Constance Billard School for Girls. Based on paparazzi photos from the Gossip Girl set showing her standing with Julien and Monet on a balcony overlooking the quad, it looks like she's one of Julien's most loyal friends, who helps her rule the school with her excellent fashion advice.
O.G. Gossip Girl Inspiration: Like Monet, Luna seems to be a mix of a classic GG minion and a bigger character. The "style" descriptor brings Jenny Humphrey to mind.
Max Wolfe
Who Is He?: Played by Thomas Doherty, Max Wolfe is described as "Freedom." Like Monet's "power," that can only mean that he either has freedom, or desperately wants it.
O.G. Gossip Girl Inspiration: Nate Archibald and Chuck Bass. Nate also wanted freedom in Season 1 of Gossip Girl, but Max Wolfe's vibes are less puppy dog, more Chuck Bass. Plus, the name Max Wolfe has spoiled rich kid written all over it.
Audrey Hope
Who Is She?: Audrey Hope, played by Emily Alyn Lind, is described as "Grace." With her blonde hair and innocent look, she definitely seems like the most traditional popular, rich, preppy Upper East Sider of the group. (Her sweaters and pearls are far less daring than Julien's biker shorts, for example.)
O.G. Gossip Girl Inspiration: Audrey's got the hair of a pre-scandal Serena van der Woodsen, but the perfection of Blair Waldorf. "Grace" suggests she's less into the drama than her friends, but, as we know, nobody is truly innocent in the Upper East Side. There's also some speculation online that Audrey will be in a relationship with Aki (Evan Mock), based on a few set photos, but they could also just be very close friends.
Kate Keller
Who Is She?: Kate Keller, played by Tavi Gevinson, is described as "Ambition," which makes sense considering that she seems to be somewhat outside the Gossip Girl crowd. It's telling, for example, that she's not in the Met steps photo, suggesting she's not necessarily a core part of the popular group. (She is in a different paparazzi set photo of the Gossip Girl crew hanging out on the Met steps.)
O.G. Gossip Girl Inspiration: This one's tough, but I'd say she's an Eric van der Woodsen mixed with some Nelly Yuki. She's close enough to the popular kids to escape their wrath, but also just outside it enough that she can operate on the side — or feed Gossip Girl info — without being noticed.
Otto "Obie" Bergmann IV
Who Is He?: Obie (Eli Brown) is identified as "Privilege," as anybody actually named Otto Bergmann IV would be. Though based on paparazzi set photos, there's definitely more to Obie than meets the eye. Brown has been spotted filming a lot of cozy looking scenes with Whitney Peak, who plays Zoya, suggesting he's curious about life beyond his privilege bubble.
O.G. Gossip Girl Inspiration: Like Nate Archibald and Eric Van Der Woodsen, Obie gives off the vibes of a tortured rich boy.
Akeno "Aki" Menzies
Who Is He?: Aki, played by Evan Mock, is labeled "Innocence," which is kind of surprising given his daring pink hair. Given his placement in the popular group, and his potential relationship with Audrey, I'd say "Innocence" might tease his upcoming storyline. Perhaps he's accused of a crime he didn't commit? Or maybe he's so innocent and foolish he falls for a scheme he really shouldn't have?
O.G. Gossip Girl Inspiration: With his off-beat style and "innocence" descriptor, my best guess is that Aki is a Vanessa Abrams type with Serena van der Woodsen connections, meaning he's an outsider, but not so much that he doesn't belong on the Upper East Side.
Zoya Lott
Who Is She?: Finally, we have Zoya Lott (Peak), who is identified as "Perspective," which can truly only mean one thing: we've met our Dan Humphrey everybody! If Zoya is bringing "perspective," then she's probably an outsider, perhaps even — gasp! — a scholarship kid. In the Met Gala steps photo, she's sitting below the core group by herself, suggesting she's definitely a newbie. As previously noted, Peak has been spotted filming a lot with Brown, including an outdoor scene that appears to have been filmed either the same night this photo was taken or for a continuation of the same sequence. In the photos, Brown's Obie is giving Zoya a coat as she looks on skeptically. Is that romance in the air I feel?
O.G. Gossip Girl Inspiration: My gut instinct is that Zoya is a more likable Dan Humphey/Jenny Humphrey who is going to be joining the group of popular kids in Season 1. However, she could also be the new Serena van der Woodsen. In the Met Gala pic, Julien, specifically, is looking down on her — a dynamic replicated in a different BTS Gossip Girl photo at the school — which could hint at a rift between the two. Perhaps they are the new Blair and Serena?
Not included in the photos: Adam Chanler-Berat, Jason Gotay, Johnathan Fernandez, and Laura Benanti, who have all been confirmed to appear on the Gossip Gil reboot. We just don't know who they're playing... yet.
Image: Courtesy of WarnerMedia