Lena Dunham's 'Girls' renewed for sixth and final season
The girls in Girls should at last be grown women by the time the popular HBO show ends after Season 6 in 2017.
HBO confirmed Wednesday what Girls guru Lena Dunham has been hinting for months: There are only so many years a show about 20-somethings and their lives in New York can maintain the fiction that the actors are wannabes still scrabbling for fame and fortune and good sex.
"HBO has renewed Girls for a sixth and final season," said HBO president Michael Lombardo, in a press release.
Dunham lavished praise on HBO for providing a "fulfilling creative experience" in Girls.
“The freedom and support that HBO has given Jenni Konner, Judd Apatow and me is something rare and beautiful. The commitment and originality of our actors has been stunning, and our crew is truly my family," she said in a prepared statement.
"I conceived of Girls when I was 23 and now I’m nearly 30 – the show has quite perfectly spanned my 20s, the period of time that it’s about – and so it feels like the right time to wrap our story up," she said. "We look forward to creating a sixth season that will honor our amazing cast, crew and fans.
And in the Girls universe, nothing ever ends too neatly.”
Lombardo said Dunham and her collaborators gave HBO a "signature series of rare wit and intelligence.”
"They are exceptional talents, and I can’t wait to see what Lena, Jenni and Judd have in store for the final seasons of this unique show, and look forward to working with them on future projects.”
But don't panic, there's still time left for Girls: Season 5 is set to begin Feb. 21 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.
Entertainment media heavies, such as The Hollywood Reporter and E!, reported Tuesday that the end was in sight for the girls of Girls, including Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet and Jemima Kirke.
But USA TODAY noticed something Dunham said back in September on Elvis Duran's podcast. which was a preview of what she said Wednesday.
"Never say never, but that is the way that we’re thinking about it right now and we’re starting to think about sort of how to wrap up the story lines of these particular young women. I started working on this show when I was 23, and now I’m going to be 30 so it kind of feels right that this show kind of sandwiched my 20s and then I go off into the world!”
Lena Dunham: Season 6 may be the last for 'Girls'
By the time the show ends, the four main actors, including Dunham, will be more than firmly established in the world — rich, famous, adorned with awards and free to consider lucrative and intriguing new offers.
Especially Dunham, who created, directed and starred in the show. She's already making headlines with her other activities — taking a break from Twitter, campaigning for Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton, hosting a new podcast, and running her online newsletter, Lenny.