Rashida Jones reflects on Parks and Recreation and Hopes for a revival

Parks and Recreation approaches a major milestone. Monday, February 24, marks 10 years since the beloved series concluded in 2015, and Jones recently shared her thoughts on the show’s impact during an interview with Gold Derby.
Since its finale, the cast has reunited once for a 2020 special benefiting Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund. Jones, 48, expressed her eagerness to bring the crew back together once more, saying, “Oh man, I hope sometime soon.” She added that co-creator Mike Schur has emphasized the importance of having a meaningful reason to do a revival, stating, “I know Mike Schur was like, 'There has to be a reason for us to do it. We can't just do it.’”
Despite this, Jones is fully on board for a reunion, even suggesting that the show should reboot every five years. The idea holds special weight in 2025, as the series finale depicted a futuristic timeline set in that very year. “Wait, were we in 2025 in the end?” Jones suddenly realized. “That’s crazy!”
Jones has been imagining a Parks and Rec spinoff ever since she first took on the role of Ann Perkins in 2009. In April, she reflected on the show’s legacy while speaking with The Independent in honor of its 15th anniversary. She recalled how a playful, random idea conceived during the cast’s downtime nearly became a reality.
“The season where we had Paul Rudd and Kathryn Hahn on was the absolute best,” Jones said, referencing their recurring roles as Bobby Newport and Jen Barkley in seasons 4 and 7. Both characters played key roles in Leslie Knope’s (Amy Poehler) city council campaign, with Newport as her well-meaning but clueless opponent and Barkley as his savvy political strategist.
As Parks and Recreation continues to hold a special place in fans’ hearts, Jones and the cast remain open to revisiting Pawnee, Indiana—perhaps sooner rather than later.