Cluelessis getting a sequel in the shape of a TV show, and thanks to Alicia Silverstone, it will finally make up for a 29-year-old Cher mistake. Back in 1995, the coming-of-age teen comedyCluelesswas released, succeeding with critics and general audiences, and becoming one of the most popular and beloved teen comedies of the decade. Looselybased on Jane Austen’s 1815 novelEmmaand directed by Amy Heckerling,Cluelesstakes the audience to Beverly Hills to meet wealthy and popular teenager Cher Horowitz (Silverstone).
When a new girl named Tai (Brittany Murphy) joins Cher and Dionne’s (Stacey Dash) class, Cher takes her under her wing as her new “project” to give her a makeover and boost her social life. Cher also plays matchmaker for two teachers, and in the process of everything, she examines her own life and what she desires. Despite its success,Cluelessnever got a proper sequel, though it got a spinoff TV show in 1996– and now, it’s finally getting a sequel as a TV show, through which an old Cher mistake is finally being fixed.
Alicia Silverstone Will Play Cher In Clueless’ TV Show After Skipping The 1996 Series
Alicia Silverstone Is Back To Give Cher’s Story A Proper Continuation
Although by the time she was cast as Cher inClueless, she was already a well-known actress,Cluelesswas the project that turned Alicia Silverstone into one of the biggest stars of the decade. Now, three decades after playing Cher, Silverstone is reprising her iconic role in a TV show. According toDeadline, aCluelessTV show is currently in developmentat Peacock, with Silverstone attached to produce and star. To make the project more exciting, Heckerling and producer Robert Lawrence will serve as executive producers.
Just a year after the release ofClueless, a TV show based on the movie was released on ABC, with most of the cast back, except Silverstone.
This newCluelessTV show is different from the scrapped reboot that was meant to focus on Dionne, as the core of the show would have been Cher’s disappearance. This project was canceled in 2021, and at the time of writing, there are no plot details on the newCluelessTV show – but having Silverstone back is a huge win after she skipped the 1996 series. Just a year after the release ofClueless, a TV show based on the movie was released on ABC, with most of the cast back. However, the biggest absentee was Silverstone.
The success ofCluelessled to Silverstone signing a deal with Columbia-TriStar, so by the time the TV show was in development, Silverstone was too busy (viaLA Times). As a result,Rachel Blanchard was cast as Cher, and while she was good in the role, the show was missing the unique charm Silverstone brought to Cher and her chemistry with the rest of the cast.
Alicia Silverstone’s Clueless TV Show Can Be A Proper Continuation Of The Movie
The 1995 Clueless TV Show Didn’t Live Up To The Movie
In addition to Silverstone’s return as Cher, the upcomingCluelessTV show is exciting as it will be a proper continuation of the movie. The 1996 TV show made changes not only to its cast but the story, as well.The 1996CluelessTV show didn’t follow the continuity of the movie, which is why it’s seen as more of a spinoff than a sequel series. While the focus was Cher’s many ups and downs in her personal and social life while navigating high school with her friends, some key events and characters from the movie were absent.
Josh, now played by David Lascher, wasn’t Cher’s romantic interest, and he was barely in the show. Tai was also recast as Brittany Murphy turned down the offer to return, and the character only appeared in three episodes, despite being a close friend of Cher and Dionne in the movie. Christian was also written out, as was Breckin Meyer’s Travis, though Meyer made a guest appearance in one episode.
The 1996CluelessTV show wasn’t bad at all, but it doesn’t quite feel like part of the movie’s universe, and it even crossed over with TV shows that didn’t really have the same vibe – however, the upcoming TV show is already labeled as a “followup” to the movie, so it will do what the past series couldn’t.
