Aaron Sorkin Says ‘West Wing’ Revival Would Be Difficult

Aaron Sorkin says he still thinks about reviving The West Wing, but cautions that bringing the political drama back would be difficult in the current environment. His comments express interest in a return, not an announcement that a new series is being developed. In an interview published Wednesday, Sorkin said the possibility crosses his mind for a couple of seconds every day. He added that returning would be “very, very tricky” under current conditions, while saying he misses the show and thinks a revival would be fun. Asked how fictional President Josiah “Jed” Bartlet might respond to current politics, Sorkin said he would want time before putting words in the character’s mouth. He added that Bartlet’s reaction would not be unlike that of most people. Sorkin did not offer a specific storyline or describe how a new version would address present-day events. The series, created by Sorkin, followed Bartlet and his staff in the White House. It ran on NBC for seven seasons, from 1999 to 2006, with Martin Sheen playing the president. The cast also included Bradley Whitford as deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman and Dulé Hill as presidential aide Charlie Young.