Clueless Series: Sequel starring Alicia Silverstone on new streaming service
The first details about the story are already available
Good news for fans of Alicia Silverstone: The Hollywood star is returning as Cher Horowitz. She previously played the role over 30 years ago in the coming-of-age comedy "Clueless." Now Silverstone will make her comeback in a sequel series to the original film. Paramount+ has been confirmed as the streaming service where "Clueless" will air.
Originally, the sequel series – which is set to continue the plot of the original film – was in development at the streaming service Peacock. A few months ago, however, Peacock put the project on hold. At the same time, it was reported that "Clueless" would be offered to another platform. And now it's official: Paramount+ has snagged the series.
What happened to Cher Horowitz?
The original film was released in 1995 and was inspired by Jane Austen's classic novel "Emma" from 1815. Amy Heckerling directed and wrote the screenplay. The story follows Cher Horowitz. The popular high school student takes it upon herself to mentor a newcomer who initially seems awkward. But then this plan begins to unfold quite differently than she had expected. Alongside Alicia Silverstone, the cast included Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Jeremy Sisto, and Donald Faison, among others. A TV series adaptation followed in 1996, which ran for three seasons and comprised a total of 62 episodes. However, Cher Horowitz was no longer played by Silverstone; instead, Rachel Blanchard took over the role.
The now-planned "Clueless" series picks up where the original film left off. The story takes place 30 years later and shows what became of the original protagonist, who is once again portrayed by Alicia Silverstone. The premise description reads:
"Beloved Beverly Hills icon Cher Horowitz has figured out a lot: She's successful in business and has mastered motherhood – that is, until her daughter's high school years, and Cher finds that parenting a teenager makes her feel 'clueless' all over again."
Alicia Silverstone isn't just on board as the lead actress
The team behind the scenes of the sequel series is also already known. With Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, two creators who know their way around teen series are on board: Among other projects, the two worked on the series "The O.C." Together with Jordan Weiss, they are set to serve as writers and executive producers. Lead actress Alicia Silverstone, director Amy Heckerling, and producer Robert Lawrence – three key figures from the original film – are also on board as executive producers.
Paramount+ is reported to have ordered six episodes, according to Variety, citing unnamed sources. Whether and how the series will continue after that remains to be seen. The premiere date is also still to be announced. What has already been revealed, however, is that filming is set to begin in Los Angeles in 2027.
For fans of Alicia Silverstone, this is likely to be a welcome reunion with the actress, who was particularly prominent in the '90s. After gaining worldwide attention in "Clueless", she appeared two years later in "Batman & Robin" alongside George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Uma Thurman. In the comic book adaptation, she played Barbara Wilson, aka Batgirl. What was surely intended as another career boost, however, turned out to be a flop. The film underperformed at the box office and was panned by critics, which likely didn't do her career much good. But all that was a long time ago. Now we can look forward to her comeback in "Clueless."