Ugly Betty Star Shares How A Revival Series Could Work 15 Years Later (& How Long It Should Last)

Ugly Betty star Ana Ortiz reveals her thoughts on how a revival series could work. Ugly Betty was a workplace drama series that told the story of a young woman named Betty who embraces her appearance and strong attitude when she enters the world of New York Fashion. The series began in 2006 and ran for four seasons, wrapping up in 2010. The show was star-making for America Ferrera, who won an Emmy for the show in its first season. In addition to Ferrera and Ortiz, Ugly Betty‘s cast included Eric Mabius, Judith Light, Michael Urie, and Becki Newton.

Speaking on the Behind the Velvet Rope podcast (via Entertainment Weekly), Ortiz shares her thoughts on a potential Ugly Betty revival. The actor was enthusiastic about the potential, saying that the cast really wanted to do it. In order to revive the series effectively, however, she thinks there needs to be “at least six episodes” rather than just “a two-hour thing.” In order to bring this vision to fruition, Ortiz says, there would be some rights issues. Check out the full quote from Ortiz below:

I’m gonna live in the world of yes, because we all wanna do it so badly.

I honestly think the only way to do it is at least six episodes. I don’t think, because it’s a large cast with so many different moving parts, you couldn’t put it into a movie. It couldn’t just be a two-hour thing, because every character is so epic, right?

I mean, Wilhelmina [Vanessa Williams] and Judith Light’s character, Claire Meade and then [Michael Urie] and [Becki Newton] who play Marc and Amanda… and then the family. I think it would have to be.”

I can only say that we are so all of us, from soup to nuts, we all want to do it. I think it’s just a question now of getting the rights, because it was owned by the Colombian production company, blah, blah, blah. So, we’re working on it.

What This Means For The Potential Ugly Betty Revival

Othe Cast Members Have Echoed Similar Enthusiasm

Ortiz is not the first Ugly Betty actor to express enthusiasm towards a revival opportunity. In December 2023, Ferrera said that there was “a deep desire” to make another installment “for a long time.” Like Ortiz, Ferrera believed that the cast would “all come back in a heartbeat.” An Ugly Betty revival would hinge on the return of key cast members like Ferrera and Ortiz, so the fact that they are willing to go for it is a good sign for the revival potential.

Ugly Betty is currenly available to stream on Hulu and Netflix.

Ortiz’s parameters complicate the idea of an Ugly Betty return. While a revival series might be the best option, there is also a chance that Ugly Betty could be offered an in-between option, such as a movie. This was done recently with the series Monk, which came back after a 14-year hiatus for the TV movie Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie. Ortiz is right that Ugly Betty is built upon its ensemble, making a shorter-term return more difficult. This could complicate the revival, as a network may be less willing to risk a full season return.

Our Take On An Ugly Betty Revival

Other Failed Revival Shows Might Dissuade It From Happening

Betty and Justin sitting in formal wear in Ugly Betty

Revivals of older shows have had mixed success in recent years. The Frasier reboot was canceled after just two seasons, as was the Paramount+ iCarly reboot after three seasons. This track record for returning shows may dissuade networks from wanting to bring back Ugly Betty. Continued cast enthusiasm like that of Ortiz, however, has the potential to sway someone to give it a try.