A ‘bisexual’ Clueless reboot filled with Lizzo references is in the works
Dionne (Stacey Dash) and Cher (Alicia Silverstone) in the original Clueless. (Paramount)
Hollywood’s reboot culture might finally be about to produce something interesting: a bisexual Clueless reboot described as “Mean Girls meets Riverdale meets a Lizzo music video”.
Two decades after its first TV spin-off ended, Clueless is reportedly being revived for the small screen.
The new series will reportedly be centred on Dionne, played by Stacey Dash in both the 1995 film and the subsequent sitcom series.
Deadline described the concept as “a baby pink and bisexual blue-tinted, tiny sunglasses-wearing, oat milk latté and Adderall-fueled look at what happens when the high school queen bee Cher disappears and her lifelong No. 2 Dionne steps into Cher’s vacant Air Jordans”.
Where the original Clueless was a frothy teen comedy, the new series is being pitched as a mystery drama in the vein of Netflix’s Riverdale.
Written by Will & Grace‘s Jordan Reddout and Gus Hickey, and executive produced by American Gothic creator Corinne Brinkerhof, the series is yet to be commissioned but is reportedly drawing interest from several streaming services and networks.
But online, fans of the original Clueless were aghast the the thought of a reboot.
Please let my feelings about the #Clueless reboot be known pic.twitter.com/B2mqsDa87N
— Shyla Watson (@shylawhittney) October 19, 2019
“A dark, edgy reboot for CLUELESS is in the works!” pic.twitter.com/l0oYqT9bk4
— Braden (@bapoapst) October 17, 2019
Me on the clueless reboot pic.twitter.com/5jq92brLg3
— Lola Whiskey Mouth ⚰️ (@LolaMurder) October 17, 2019
Clueless film featured prominent gay character.
The original Clueless was a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, and told the story of high school student Cher (Alicia Silverstone) and her social circle.
Paul Rudd played Cher’s step-brother Josh, who she begins dating at the end of the film. Brittany Murphy played Tai, a new student whom Cher takes under her wing, with a pre-Scrubs Donald Faison as Murray, Dionne’s boyfriend.
The film was notable for including a prominent gay character, Christian (Justin Walker), whom Cher attempted to seduce before realising his sexuality.
Though the character was riddled with stereotypes – he was into fashion, dancing and the arts – that the film included any LGBT+ representation was groundbreaking in itself, being released as it was two years before Ellen DeGeneres’ landmark coming out.
