The “Zoey 101” Follow-Up Movie Trailer Just Dropped, But Not Every Star Is Returning

    Zoey 102 picks things up for many characters after the aughts Nickelodeon series, but several cast members aren't coming back.

    Joseph Longo
    by Joseph Longo

    BuzzFeed Staff

    The PCA crew is back — well, mostly anyway. On Thursday, Paramount+ dropped the trailer for Zoey 102, a follow-up film to the Nickelodeon TV show Zoey 101.

    View this video on YouTube
    Paramount+ / Via youtube.com

    Zoey 101 ran for four seasons, beginning in 2005 and ending in 2008. 

    The film premieres July 27 on Paramount+.

    Dana Hawley/Paramount+

    Much of the cast is returning for the film, which follows the former high school classmates reuniting for the wedding of Quinn Pensky (Erin Sanders) and Logan Reese (Matthew Underwood).

    Paramount+ / Via youtube.com

    This includes series star Jamie Lynn Spears, who appears to be playing the lead character in the movie too.

    Dana Hawley/Paramount+

    She, Underwood, and Sanders are also joined by Sean Flynn as Chase Matthews.

    Paramount+ / Via youtube.com

    Christopher Massey is back as Michael Barrett too, as is Abby Wilde as Stacey Dillsen and Jack Salvatore as Mark Del Figgalo.

    Paramount+

    However, there are numerous Zoey 101 cast members who won’t be returning for the film. Notably absent are Victoria Justice, Paul Butcher, and Alexa Nikolas.

    Victoria played Lola Martinez in the series, while Paul starred as Zoey’s younger brother Dustin Brooks, and Alexa was Nicole Bristowe.

    The three stars have all taken different approaches to addressing their absence in the film. Namely, for Victoria, that means not saying anything at all. The actor hasn’t spoken publicly about not appearing in Zoey 102.

    Rodin Eckenroth / FilmMagic

    However, Paul and Alexa have addressed skipping out on the film.

    Monica Schipper / The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

    In January, Paul posted a TikTok video that shaded the movie. Using a quote from The Devil Wears Prada that’s turned into a TikTok meme format, Paul created a video in which he has the world asking, “What if we don’t want a Zoey 101 reboot movie anymore?”

    @paulbutcher

    Queue JoJo "Too Little Too Late"

    ♬ original sound - vicmram
    @paulbutcher / Via tiktok.com
    He responds in character as “my ex sister,” which seems to be a reference to Jamie Lynn, who played his character’s older sister on Zoey 101. The “ex sister” character mouths the line from DWP, “Oh don’t be ridiculous Andrea, everybody wants this.”

    Paul has previously shaded Jamie Lynn before for her public feud with her older sister, Britney Spears. However, it's unclear if Jamie Lynn and Britney's family issues have informed Paul not appearing in the movie.

    @paulbutcher / Via tiktok.com

    Alexa has been more direct about her displeasure with the film. Following news of the reboot, Alexa tweeted in January, “Take note of people in this industry that do not advocate publicly nor privately to create safer environments by even simply supporting individuals close to them that have bravely come forward. Birds of a feather. Flock together ”

    Take note of people in this industry that do not advocate publicly nor privately to create safer environments by even simply supporting individuals close to them that have bravely come forward. Birds of a feather. Flock 👏🏻 together 👏🏻

    — Alexa Nikolas (@alexanikolas__) January 13, 2023
    @alexanikolas__ / Via Twitter: @alexanikolas__

    She followed up with a second tweet that read, “Do NOT support a network that can’t even take accountability especially when it comes to CHILDREN. That is beyond low… #nickelodeon.”

    😵‍💫 Do NOT support a network that can’t even take accountability especially when it comes to CHILDREN. That is beyond low… #nickelodeon

    — Alexa Nikolas (@alexanikolas__) January 13, 2023
    @alexanikolas__ / Via Twitter: @alexanikolas__
    Nickelodeon and Paramount+ are owned by the same parent company, Paramount Global.

    Alexa has spoken out previously about an alleged unsafe workplace at Nickelodeon. This included protesting outside of the TV network's grounds, where she said she “did not feel protected at Nickelodeon as a child, personally.”