The making of 7th Heaven was a positive experience for the cast. On-set, there wasn't any sort of controversy. The only thing closest to controversy was disagreements between Jessica Biel and Beverly Mitchell, but that was really because of their youth at the time, and now the two are very close.
7th Heaven has a tainted image these days because of Stephen Collins and the disturbing allegations made against him. Collins went off the map following the reveal, and he won't be returning to Hollywood.
In the following, we'll take a look at the reaction from the cast regarding the news of Stephen Collins. In addition, we'll reveal Catherine Hicks' conflicting feelings on the matter. It seems like at one point, she was totally against Collins returning, but her feelings might have changed. Nowadays, Hicks admitted that the chances of a reboot might be nonexistent.
The Cast Of 7th Heaven Were Stunned By The Stephen Collins' Controversy And Didn't See Any Signs On-Set
It started way back in 1996 on The WB and would go on for over a decade, airing 243 episodes along with 11 seasons. Fans have been asking for a reboot, though it doesn't seem like there are any plans. Some might say that Stephen Collins hurt any chance of a revival. To this day, the cast has said very little about the disturbing ordeal.
Kyle Searles was among the few to make a statement with TMZ at the time, stating that he was blindsided and saw Collins as a father figure on-set.
“It was a little shock, there was some confusion because that wasn’t who I remembered. All I can do is tell you who he was whenever I worked with him. Never once had any type of encounter where he was a little inappropriate, nobody in the cast had ever come to me, nor was it ever an issue.”
Searles continued at the time, “Stephen is somebody I looked up to,” he reflected. “Stephen was by far the most likable, influential, genuine person that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. You know, he knew everybody on set, not just the actors, all by their first name. He was definitely a father figure to everybody on set. I’m sure everybody working with him could attest the same way.”
Given that tapes would also leak, with Collins confessing to it, this was a questionable statement. However, a certain 7th Heaven co-star saw things differently, and that was the closest person to Collins on-set.
Catherine Hicks Would Only Agree To A 7th Heaven Reboot If Stephen Collins' Character Got Killed Off
Back in the fall of 2016, Hicks revealed that she was open to a reboot, however, it had to come with a certain scene...
“We would have to open with Stephen’s coffin." She continues, "It’s all up to the networks and those types of things. I think we’d all love to be together,” she added. “Eighth Heaven with a new boyfriend for Annie.”
It seems like Hicks had a change of heart as just two years prior, she was speaking differently about the matter.
“I have really nothing to say, nothing to hide,” Collins’ on-screen wife Hicks told TMZ. “I don’t know anything. Stephen’s a good guy in my opinion.”
In what appears to be yet another twist, it seems as though Hicks once again changed her mind on the matter a year later, acting a little more accepting to the situation.
Catherine Hicks Seemed To Have Changed Her Opinion A Year Later
Speaking with TMZ in 2018, Hicks once again changed her mind regarding the matter. This time, Hicks revealed that she had no opinion on what had taken place with Collins, and that she was open for the actor to return during a reunion of sorts.
“I have no opinion on Stephen’s culpability or not. We were surprised, but we all love each other. We really, god, worked altogether beautifully, and if they did do a reunion, I’d just be happy to show up and see everyone, Stephen included. It was never an issue on our show. It’s just sort of another chapter, I think, to his life, I think, before we started 7th Heaven."
Hicks continued, "Therefore, it’s not a current issue, so being together and resuming our characters would be fine, ’cause the show is based on forgiveness, nonjudgmentalism, humility, all the values that sort of make up a particular brand of faith.”
In 2023, Hicks finally spoke about the reboot, stating that it won't happen given how the times have changed today.
