The classic 1990s teen comedyCluelessis getting a fresh television sequel and features the return of another original star. In 1996, one year after the release of the original movie starring Alicia Silverstone, a spinoff television series of the same name was released and ran for three seasons. While several of the originalCluelesscast members would return to reprise their roles,Silverstone’s burgeoning film careermeant thatshe was unable to return as Cher Horowitz for the TV series. Instead, her role was played by Rachel Blanchard, while David Lascher played Paul Rudd’s character Josh Lucas.
PerDeadline, anewCluelesstelevision series is in development at Peacock with Silverstone set to both star in and produce. Written and executive produced by Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage (Gossip Girl) and Jordan Weiss (Dollface), both the original 1995 movie’s writer-director Amy Heckerling and producer Robert Lawrence will also serve as executive producers on the new show. This new project follows on the heels of scrapped plans for a series reboot that would have focused on Stacey Dash’s character, Dionne “Dee” Davenport.
What Alicia Silverstone’s Return Means For The Clueless Sequel Show
The Property Is Inseparable From Her Version Of Cher
Despite coming to public attention on the back of her debut film role in the 1993 thrillerThe Crush, it wasSilverstone’s performance as CherinCluelessthat first catapulted her into stardom and made her one of the most sought-after actors of the 90s. While producers would also attempt to capitalize on the movie’s success via the spinoff show,Silverstone’s absence was keenly felt despite the return of Dashand her other original co-stars, Donald Faison and Elisa Donovan.
For many fans of the original film, the character ofCher Horowitz is inseparable from Silverstone’s performance, and the first show’s attempts to recast the character fell short. Similarly, when initial plans torebootCluelessas a TV serieswere first announced in 2020, it was revealed that the intention was to have Cher’s character go missing, leaving her best friend Dionne to unravel the mystery of her disappearance. It was an approach that many established fans questioned, given the pivotal nature of Cher’s character to the original property.
Our Take On Alicia Silverstone’s Return As Cher
This Approach Could Deliver A More Faithful Continuation Of The 90s Hit
This latest move seemsset to make up for both previous attempts to either recast or write out Silverstone’s character. Recognizing that much of the appeal of the originalCluelessmovie was her flawless, effervescent take on Cher, Silverstone’s return seems the only logical way to create a truly faithful TV continuation. Moreover, with Silverstone now onboard, it will be interesting to see whether producers may also attempt to persuade Rudd to come back, if only for a cameo appearance.
Clueless
Cast
Clueless is a 1995 comedy film that follows Cher Horowitz, a wealthy and popular high school student in Beverly Hills, who navigates adolescence while matchmaking friends and discovering her own feelings. The film offers a modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Emma, set in a contemporary American high school.
