After 25 years, Josie and the Pussycats has found its cult fandom, but don’t expect a reunion tour anytime soon.
Rachael Leigh Cook, who starred as the titular Riverdale rocker in the 2001 movie, recently addressed the idea of a potential sequel or reboot of the musical comedy, which was written and directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan.
“I don’t think I would need to touch it myself,” she told People. “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 added, “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.”
Although the 2001 big-screen adaptation of the Archie Comic only grossed $14.8 million when it was first released, the camp, stylized comedy has earned a massive cult following over the years, thanks 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.
Rosario Dawson, Tara Reid, Rachael Leigh Cook and Parker Posey in ‘Josie and the Pussycats’ (2001)
The movie also featured a perfect ensemble, including Rosario Dawson and Tara Reid as her bandmates Val and Mel, as well as Alan Cumming and Parker Posey as evil Mega Records execs Wyatt and Fiona.
Cook said the movie’s long-overdue fandom “feels awesome” after 25 years. “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 said.
“I don’t know what to say. Better late than never,” added Cook. “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.”