“Roseanne” fans have likely been wondering how the upcoming revival will handle a cast that includes both Alicia Goranson and Sarah Chalke. After all, both actresses played the same character, Becky, with Chalke inheriting the role from Goranson in the original series’ sixth season.
On Thursday, the riddle was solved, with EW.com reporting that Chalke won’t be taking on the role of Becky, but rather a character who enlists Goranson’s Becky for a crucial task.
According to EW, Chalke will portray Andrea, a middle-class married woman who who taps Becky as a surrogate.
“Roseanne” showrunner Bruce Helford cooked up the angle that would allow the reunion to bring both Chalke and Goranson back into the fold, along with executive producers Tom Werner, Whitney Cummings and Sara Gilbert, according to EW. The casting “not only leads to some drama within the Conner family but it gives the producers a chance to wink at how important both women were to series,” EW reported.
“I love the part! It’s such a fun part to play,” Chalke said of her new role, adding that the timing of the reunion was “perfect.”
“I think it’s exactly what is needed right now,” Chalke said “Right now when the country is so divided, I really think it’s a show that brings people together. The writing is so unbelievable. It’s so funny.”
The “Roseanne” revival premieres March 27 on ABC.