The hallways of Hollywood Arts are reopening. Netflix has ordered 26 episodes of “Hollywood Arts,” a spinoff of Nickelodeon’s beloved teen series “Victorious,” marking an unusual multi-platform strategy that will see the show debut on the streamer in 2026 before rolling out on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.
Daniella Monet Returns as Trina Vega
The series brings back Daniella Monet to reprise her role as Trina Vega—the perpetually overlooked sibling of “Victorious” protagonist Tori Vega (originally played by Victoria Justice). But this time, Trina takes center stage.
According to the official logline, struggling actress Trina returns to Hollywood Arts as an unqualified substitute teacher, “quickly finding herself both clashing with and unexpectedly inspiring a new generation of ambitious and talented students as they learn to find their true path at Hollywood’s most elite performing arts school.”
It’s a premise that feels both natural for the character and ripe for comedy—Trina was always “Victorious'” most delusional performer, convinced of her own talent despite abundant evidence to the contrary. Watching her guide (or misguide) the next generation of Hollywood Arts students promises comedic gold.
“Coming back as Trina alongside such a dynamic, powerful cast of newcomers is something I feel very lucky and grateful to do,” Monet said in a statement. “‘Victorious’ was in a lot of ways life changing for all of us, our cast is forever bonded by that experience, and to think that I have an opportunity to steward anything close to that is a feeling I can’t begin to describe. As an actress, producer, and mom, I am so eager to create something we can all be proud to share with the world.”
Monet will also serve as executive producer on the series, giving her creative control over the project and ensuring authentic continuation of the “Victorious” legacy.
New Generation, Familiar Setting
Production is set to begin in the coming weeks in Vancouver, with a fresh cast joining Monet:
- Alyssa Miles (“Hanging out with Alyssa and Xavier”)
- Emmy Liu-Wang (“Raven’s Home,” “Slumber Party”)
- Peyton Jackson (“Woman in the Yard,” “Young Dylan”)
- Erika Swayze (“School Spirits,” “Davey & Jonesie’s Locker,” “Workin’ Moms”)
- Martin Kamm (“Unsung Hero,” “Web of Spiderman”)
Additionally, Yvette Nicole Brown will guest star in the series, though her role remains under wraps.
The show will be written, executive produced, and showrun by Jake Farrow and Samantha Martin. Jonathan Judge will executive produce and direct the pilot episode. Notably, Farrow was a producer on the original “Victorious” and voiced the ventriloquist dummy Rex—a fan-favorite recurring character who belonged to Robbie Shapiro (Matt Bennett).
The Netflix Factor
The series pickup comes after “Victorious” found massive renewed popularity on Netflix. All episodes of the original series are currently available on the streamer in the U.S., reportedly racking up 45 million views since the beginning of 2024 alone. It’s also available on Paramount+, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the teen sitcom more than a decade after its finale.
This success likely drove the unusual multi-platform strategy. By debuting on Netflix before migrating to Nickelodeon and Paramount+, the show can capitalize on the streamer’s massive subscriber base while still serving Paramount Global’s own platforms. It’s a hybrid approach that acknowledges where the audience currently lives while building up content libraries across the company’s streaming ecosystem.
The original “Victorious” aired on Nickelodeon from 2010-2013 across four seasons, launching the careers of several cast members—most notably Ariana Grande, who went on to become one of the world’s biggest pop stars. The cast also included Victoria Justice, Leon Thomas III, Matt Bennett, Elizabeth Gillies, and Avan Jogia.
The Second Spinoff
“Hollywood Arts” will be the second spinoff of “Victorious,” following “Sam & Cat.” That series saw Grande reprise her role as Cat Valentine alongside “iCarly” star Jennette McCurdy as Sam Puckett. Despite strong fan interest and solid ratings, “Sam & Cat” aired for just one season from 2013-2014, with behind-the-scenes tensions and McCurdy’s well-documented negative experiences with Nickelodeon contributing to its cancellation.
The hope is that “Hollywood Arts” can avoid those pitfalls, particularly with Monet serving as both star and executive producer, giving her significant creative input and control over the production environment.
Dan Schneider’s Absence
Notably, Dan Schneider, the creator of “Victorious,” is not involved with “Hollywood Arts.”
Schneider was previously a major driving force behind Nickelodeon’s programming during the “Victorious” era, creating or producing hits like “iCarly,” “Drake & Josh,” “Zoey 101,” and “Henry Danger.” However, he parted ways with the network in 2018 after multiple allegations of misconduct and creating a toxic work environment surfaced.
His time at Nickelodeon was extensively documented in the Investigation Discovery docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” which aired in 2024 and detailed numerous troubling incidents involving child actors working on his shows. The documentary sparked widespread discussion about child safety in the entertainment industry and the power dynamics that allowed inappropriate behavior to continue unchecked for years.
The decision to proceed with “Hollywood Arts” without Schneider’s involvement signals Nickelodeon and Netflix’s commitment to creating a healthier production environment while still honoring the nostalgia and affection audiences have for these beloved properties.
What to Expect
With production beginning soon and a 2026 debut targeted, “Hollywood Arts” has time to establish its identity separate from its predecessor while honoring what made “Victorious” work: talented young performers, musical performances, Hollywood satire, and the specific brand of absurdist humor that defined Nickelodeon’s live-action sitcoms of that era.
Trina as the protagonist offers interesting possibilities. In “Victorious,” she was often the butt of jokes—untalented, self-absorbed, oblivious to her own limitations. But making her the lead character requires finding depth and humanity in someone previously played purely for laughs. The “unqualified substitute teacher” premise suggests the show will lean into that transformation, showing Trina learning and growing alongside her students.
The series is produced by Paramount Television Studios, with production overseen by Shauna Phelan, executive vice president of live-action series and film at Nickelodeon, along with Brian Banks, executive in charge of production.
A New Chapter for Hollywood Arts
For fans who grew up with “Victorious,” “Hollywood Arts” represents both nostalgia and evolution—a chance to revisit a beloved setting through fresh eyes while reconnecting with a familiar face. For younger viewers discovering the original series on Netflix, it offers an entry point into a world their slightly older siblings and cousins loved.
Whether the show can capture the magic of its predecessor while establishing its own identity remains to be seen. But with Daniella Monet at the helm—both in front of and behind the camera—and a commitment to creating a positive production environment, “Hollywood Arts” has the foundation to succeed on its own terms.
The question isn’t whether audiences want to return to Hollywood Arts. With 45 million views on Netflix proving they absolutely do, the real question is whether this new generation of students—and their hilariously unqualified teacher—can create something worth singing about.
Production begins soon, with the series set to premiere on Netflix in 2026.
