The enduring popularity of the 1995 film “Clueless” continues to fuel new adaptations and retrospectives, with a West End stage show and an upcoming peacock series from “The OC” and “Gossip Girl” creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie savage, featuring Alicia Silverstone reprising her iconic role. Director Amy Heckerling,an executive producer on the new project,has remained tight-lipped about details,citing the early stage of progress and a superstitious approach to discussing new work.
The film’s 30th anniversary also brings renewed attention to the original cast, particularly the absence of Brittany Murphy, who passed away at 32. Co-star Donald Faison,who played Murray Duvall,reflected on Murphy’s vibrant presence,stating,”I always think about Brittany and it’s really hard to do any of this and not talk about her.” He described her as “so talented and just had so much energy and so vibrant… just this hummingbird, frenetic sort of energy, but also like, ‘everything’s great. I got it. No problem.'”
The anniversary events evoke a sense of nostalgia and remembrance for Murphy, with co-star Elisa Donovan noting, “It makes me emotional because I feel like she shoudl be doing a lot of this, like she would be doing a lot of this.” The milestone also highlights the film’s lasting cultural impact, with costume designer Mona May sharing, “People come up to me and say: ‘Your designs changed my life.’ To hear that in your lifetime, that something that you created has had an impact on people? It’s incredible.” Heckerling emphasized the possibility to celebrate “the goofy fun of it all” as the film’s original audience now has children of their own navigating high school.
