Rachael Leigh Cook addresses sequel talk on Josie and the Pussycats

Belated fandom

According to Deadline, the 2001 live-action adaptation of the Archie Comic property, Josie and the Pussycats, has caught on with a new cult of younger fans. Back when the film came out, despite featuring the fresh-faced Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson (who would all be known through their previous respective teen comedies, She’s All That, American Pie and Down to You), the movie didn’t make waves with only a $14.8 million gross. However, over the years, the film would garner a cult following, which Deadline attributes to “its fierce takedown of capitalism through subliminal messaging, in-your-face product placement and an iconic original soundtrack, performed by Letters to Cleo’s Kay Hanley as the voice of Josie.”

Sequel talk?

So, now that the film has its legion of fans and Archie has been revived through a grittier reimagining, could a sequel for Josie and the Pussycats see the light of day? Deadline reports that Cook would tell People,

I don’t think I would need to touch it myself. I’m proud of what we made. Maybe if they did some time traveling, maybe there’s something that could be weird and interesting.”

Cook also stated, “I do not think that there’s any talk of anything like that. It took long enough for people to get it the first time. We’re not gonna push our luck, I don’t think.” However, she’s very grateful for the attention the film is now getting, saying it “feels awesome” after 25 years. She expounded, “People are rediscovering that movie after it being considered an absolute box-office flop and only getting its flowers as it were in the last couple of years, maybe the last decade or so.”

She added, “I don’t know what to say. Better late than never. I’m just grateful for it. It’s easy to make a movie that just sort of falls into the abyss. I’ve certainly made a lot of those, and I’m not saying they all deserve the Josie resurrection and treatment, but I’m just glad that this very deserving movie ultimately found an audience.”

Archie movie from Lord and Miller

Meanwhile, the main Archie property will be getting a new film with Project Hail Mary directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller producing from a script by Tom King. Lord and Miller had this to say about the project: “We are longtime fans of Archie, Veronica, Betty and the gang in all of their iterations. When we heard Tom King’s take on the classic material, we instantly thought it made sense as an event movie for all audiences — both lifelong fans and a whole new generation. We’re so excited to bring these beloved characters to the big screen.“

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