Reese Witherspoon to Star in ‘Election’ Sequel ‘Tracy Flick Can’t Win’ at Paramount+
Reese Witherspoon is reprising her role as go-getter Tracy Flick in “Tracy Flick Can’t Win,” a sequel to the 1999 political comedy “Election.”
Alexander Payne, who co-wrote and directed the original film, is returning for the follow-up, which is set to debut on Paramount’s streaming service, Paramount+. In addition to directing, Payne will write the movie adaptation with Jim Taylor.
In “Election,” based on the 1998 novel by Tom Perrotta, Witherspoon portrayed an ambitious, Type-A student whose social studies teacher (played by Matthew Broderick) attempts to sabotage her campaign to become school president. Although it wasn’t a box office draw, the movie was nominated at the Oscars for best adapted screenplay, while Witherspoon landed attention at the Golden Globes in the best actress race.
The sequel, based on Perrotta’s follow-up novel that published earlier this year, picks up with Tracy in adulthood as she continues to struggle to fight her way to the top at work. She’s the assistant principal at a public high school in suburban New Jersey, but she sets her sights on the top job as her boss announces plans to retire.
In the New York Times’ review, critic Molly Young described the follow-up story as “even more piercing than its predecessor” and praised Perrotta’s characters as “exquisitely drawn.” Meanwhile, Vox’s Constance Grady calls Tracy Flick “a Rorschach test for how we think about women, ambition, and the power dynamics of sex. “
Witherspoon will produce the film with Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine, a Candle Media company. Additional producers include Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa of Bona Fide Productions. Perrotta is executive producing.
Witherspoon is filming the next season of “The Morning Show” for Apple TV+ and will appear next in Netflix’s romantic comedy “Your Place or Mine.”
Payne, best known for “Citizen Ruth,” “The Descendants” and “Nebraska,” is currently working on “The Holdovers” with his “Sideways” star Paul Giamatti.
Perrotta’s prior novels “Election” Little Children” were adapted into Oscar-nominated films, while “The Leftovers” and “Mrs. Fletcher” were turned into acclaimed HBO shows.
(Variety)
Josh Lucas Weighs in on a Potential ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ Sequel
Josh Lucas is ready to return to Sweet Home Alabama! ET’s Cassie DiLaura spoke to the 51-year-old Yellowstone actor, who revealed that he’s eagerly awaiting Reese Witherspoon’s go-ahead to make a sequel to their film, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in September.
“I would love to. I’ve campaigned her. I’m not gonna say that she’s the problem, but I think part of it is that Reese is so busy,” he told ET. “… I really believe that — I’m assuming, I hope — she wants to be part of it. Carving out that piece of her life isn’t so easy for her. I don’t have the same responsibilities or time constraints, so I hope that she could find a time to do it. I’ll be there tomorrow.”
While Witherspoon’s busy schedule may be holding up the continuation of Melanie and Jake’s love story, Lucas couldn’t be more proud of his co-star’s success.
“I go back to when we were shooting that movie, I had this moment where I was like, ‘Wow, this woman is a really brilliant, powerful person,'” he said. “Not just, obviously, being a great actress, comedian that she was — she’s in her mid-20s at that point. I said to the director, I said to a couple of people, ‘Reese is gonna run a movie studio.’ They were like, ‘Really?'”
Though she may not be running a studio, Lucas’ prediction wasn’t far off, as Witherspoon currently has her own production company, Hello Sunshine. “If you look at what she’s doing, she’s become a mogul,” Lucas marveled.
(ET – watch the video here)
Reese’s final promotional appearance this week was on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday evening. They played a fun game of ‘What’s Behind Me’, and Reese chatted about Busy Betty, The Morning Show season 3, Dolly Parton, and Hello Sunshine. Reese again opted for Alexander McQueen for this appearance, wearing an off-the-shoulder black dress and belt from the designer, with shoes by Christian Louboutin. Watch the interview below, and find HD screencaptures and stills in our Gallery:
‘Sweet Home Alabama’ at 20: Director Andy Tennant and star Josh Lucas reveal never-before-told stories about the rom-com classic and their hopes for a sequel
In the two decades since it was made, “Sweet Home Alabama” went from an unwanted script to a surprise box-office hit to a rom-com classic.
Reese Witherspoon was just coming off the success of “Legally Blonde” when she agreed to play the southern troublemaker turned New York City fashion designer Melanie Carmichael.
But even in Witherspoon’s most optimistic moments, she probably didn’t imagine that teaming up with filmmaker Andy Tennant, who just a year earlier helmed a movie that performed so poorly he was thrown in “director jail,” and starring opposite an unknown leading man by the name of Josh Lucas would lead to enormous success.
That’s exactly what happened, though. With a $35.6 million opening weekend, the movie held the record for the best-ever September opening for 10 years.
“Sweet Home Alabama” follows Melanie as she travels to her Alabama hometown to finalize her divorce from her childhood sweetheart, Jake (Lucas), so she can marry Andrew (Patrick Dempsey), the son of the New York City mayor (Candice Bergen).
But things get complicated once Melanie comes face-to-face with Jake again.
Thanks to the on-screen chemistry between Witherspoon and Lucas that fuels the movie — along with the great supporting cast that included Fred Ward, Jean Smart, Melanie Lynskey, Ethan Embry, Mary Kay Place, and a very young Dakota Fanning — “Sweet Home Alabama” has become a beloved rom-com classic.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the movie’s theatrical release, Insider spoke with Tennant and Lucas, who shared never-before-told stories about the making of the movie, including details about the original ending that needed to be reshot, the multiple slaps to the face Lucas took from Witherspoon for a scene that ended up being cut, and how the rom-com almost starred Charlize Theron.
Continue reading this entry »
Reese appeared on The View on Wednesday, to promote Busy Betty. The interview was similar to GMA and The Today Show, with Reese talking about Busy Betty being based on her as a child, the trouble she got into as a child when trying to run businesses, and her mother’s influence on her. Reese talked about Hello Sunshine and putting women’s stories out there, what it is she loves about books, how she chooses which books to turn into movies or TV series including Where The Crawdads Sing, how she’s learned “every side of my business”, and that she doesn’t have ‘imposter syndrome’. They also chatted about Sweet Home Alabama and the appeal of romantic comedies, Lizzo, and season 3 of The Morning Show. Reese posed outside the studios with her book. Reese wore a pretty purple dress by Oscar De La Renta, with Christian Louboutin shoes and a Bottega Veneta purse.
Watch the interview below, and find HD screencaptures plus photos from outside the studios in our Gallery:
Reese appeared on Today with Hoda and Jenna on Tuesday, to promote her new children’s book Busy Betty. Reese talked about her early experiences of business – including lemonade stands – and that she was “kooky” and had a “big personality” as a child! She said she didn’t play much with other children as she was too busy performing and singing Dolly Parton to them, and that her kindergarten teacher told her Mom this and her Mom put her in acting classes! She also talked about how she’s always found it important to see how different parts of film-making happen (she worked as a production assistant when she was younger), and the work she is doing now to develop more roles for women. Reese talked about the spirit of Busy Betty, as well as the difference between parenting young children and adult children. They mentioned that it is the 20th anniversary of Sweet Home Alabama and Reese said she’d “make some calls” to get a reboot/sequel made! 😉 Reese’s gorgeous red jacket and trousers are by Alexander McQueen, and her shoes are Christian Louboutin.
Watch the interview below, and find HD screencaptures, still from the show, and some photos of Reese arriving at the studios in our Gallery:
Reese appeared on Good Morning America yesterday, as part of her promotional tour for Busy Betty. She talked about how she came up with the idea of Busy Betty – she was looking through photos of herself as a child during the pandemic and was reminded of all the businesses she started when she was little, and she wanted to write a book to teach children about business concepts. She talked about the influence of her parents on her work ethic, the trouble she got into as a child with her businesses, her kids, how she harnessed her creativity to become successful, and The Morning Show. Reese wore a striking blue jacket and trousers by Alexander McQueen, with a Lafayette shirt and Manolo Blahnik shoes.
Watch the interview below, and find HD screencaptures from the interview and photos of Reese outside the studios in our Gallery:
Reese’s first children’s book – Busy Betty – was released yesterday! The book is available on Amazon, and other retailers. Reese has also announced that there will be an audiobook of Busy Betty too.
Reese will be doing promotion for the book in the US this week, so stay tuned for coverage…
From Academy Award-winning actress, founder, and bestselling author, Reese Witherspoon, comes Busy Betty, a story about a creative, curious, and exuberant young girl who has big plans and an even bigger heart. Busy Betty has always been busy . . . even when she was just a baby! When Betty gives Frank a big hug, she realizes he needs a bath, PRONTO! Her best friend, Mae, is coming over, and Betty can’t have the smelliest dog in the whole world! But giving Frank a bath is harder than she thought and just when everything seems impossible, with Mae’s help, Betty learns she can accomplish anything with perseverance, teamwork, and one great idea. From Reese Witherspoon comes a smart and larger-than-life character who encourages young readers to celebrate what makes them unique and realize that anything is possible!
The Morning Show (2019)
