Reese Witherspoon is back baby. Variety has reported she is set to reprise her iconic role as Tracy Flick in the sequel to the 1999 film Election. The sequel is Tracy Flick Can’t Win which she will star in and produce at Paramount+.
If you need a refresher, the cult classic features Witherspoon as a type-A, overachieving high school student – a role she really plays so well – running for student government, as her social studies teacher Jim McAllister played by Matthew Broderick tries to sabotage her.
The film was not a box office success at the time, but has aged into a fan favourite (Barack Obama supposedly once called it his favourite movie), and garnered critical acclaim including an Academy Awards nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and a Golden Globe Best Actress nomination for Witherspoon
The year 1999 was an establishing time for Witherspoon. This year she also appeared in the absolute banger of a cult classic, Cruel Intentions, alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Who's involved?
The original co-writer and director Alexander Payne will be helming the sequel. We know that Witherspoon will be back, but will she be bringing her co-star, Matthew Broderick with her? The jury is still out.
Witherspoon will not only star in the film but also step in as producer along 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.
What's the plot?
Both Election and the sequel are based on novels by Tom Perrotta. The sequel picks up where Election left off. Tracy is now in adulthood and back at school as she continues to strive for the top spot. She's the assistant principal at a public school in suburban New Jersey and has her sights set on her boss's position as he announces his plan to retire.
Curious about what Reese Witherspoon has been reading? Discover her book club.
