Gotta motor: 'Heathers' sequel in the works, Winona Ryder confirms

Forget that previous scare about "Heathers ... The Musical." It seems that Heathers, everyone's favorite Drano-chugging, teen-sex, dark comedy from the '80s, is actually set for a sequel now.

Winona Ryder herself has gone on the record, saying her and Christian Slater are on board for the next chapter in the 1988 movie. (So much for her "I say we just grow up, be adults and die" attitude.)

"Whatever you hear, there is a sequel in the works, I swear to God," Ryder tells Empire Magazine, according to media reports. "But for some reason the writer, Dan Waters, and director, Michael Lehman, don't want to talk about it. I've been wanting to do a sequel forever. There is a story, and Christian has agreed to come back."

Ryder, who recently popped back on the big screen playing Spock's mother on Star Trek (for about 20 seconds), would reprise her role as "Veronica." But fitting Slater into the story will be challenge since his "J.D." character was blown to bits after attempting to take down good ole Westerburg High. But Ryder told Empire he would return as a "Obi Wan" type character. Wow, that won't be humiliating at all. ("Lick it up, Christian. Lick. It. Up.")

Meanwhile, Film.com has ranked the Top 5 and Bottom 5 film performances by Winona Ryder. No surprise what tops the list. Here's the top 5 list with short excerpts.

TOP 5 WINONA RYDER PERFORMANCES:

1. HEATHERS (1988): "Ryder nailed the sarcastic, irreverent, bored suburban teenager 'tude here in a surreal yet absolutely relatable way for any teen coming of age in the early '90s."

2. MERMAIDS (1990): "Cher doesn't ride in the backseat very often, yet in the role of her disapproving teenager daughter in this '60s-era story, Ryder was the one to shine."

3. THE CRUCIBLE (1996): "Her performance here is more memorable than that of her co-star Daniel Day-Lewis. Imagine that."

4. LITTLE WOMEN (1994): "Even though period pieces would later prove to be a weakness for her, she did the bonnet, corset, and early American accent justice here."

5. REALITY BITES (1994): "This movie and her performance perfectly articulated Gen X's identity crises -- in a fun, celebratory way -- just as righteously as Singles portrayed Gen X's relationship crises."

The bottom 5, in order: Dracula, The House of Spirits, Autumn in New York, Mr. Deeds, Sex and Death 101.

Comments

[Miguel]

I just bought this month`s Empire magazine,and it includes a 6 pages interview with Winona.
Here`s Empire`s top 5 Winona`s performances:

1-Mary Welland (The Age of Innocence)
2-Veronica Sawyer (Heathers)
3-Lydia Deetz (Beetlejuice)
4-Corky (Night On Earth)
5-Nola (Celebrity)

Winona talks about the Heathers sequel,and she mentioned her real high school experience was much more Heathers than John Hughes.

[Ian from Baltimore]

Just wanted to agree with the people who mentioned Beetlejuice. In fact, I don't even like WR and there are only 3 movies I have enjoyed her in (Beetlejuice, Mr Deeds, and Heathers).

[DoubleJ]

Are today's directors/producers really out of fresh ideas that they need to tamper with remaking this dark comedy classic? Also heard that the 1985 gem Girls Just Want To Have Fun is being remade (maybe Shannon Doherty is behind all this as she co-starred in both movies). Bulhemia is STILL so '87!!!!!!

[DerekT]

A.H. Spears fixed the mistake he made in the posting. So we did read it and due to our mentioning the mistake, it was fixed.

[A.H.]

Ok. They never said Ryder played Kirk's mom, we all know she played Spock's mom. Read thoroughly before posting please.

And they should NOT make a sequel to "Heathers". Leave well enough alone.

[Blaine]

Ugh. This is so "not '80s."

[CHAD]

yawn

[80sfan]

I found Age of Innocence rather boring as well however Winona was nominated for an Academy award for her performance.

[80sfan]

Please don't tell me that the story is going to revolve around Veronica's high school reunion. Although I do wonder what Martha Dunnstock is up to these days.

[Spears]

I believe the idea is that we do indeed catch up with them in middle age, finding out how everyone turned out.

I'd suspect Veronica would have some crisis in order to invoke the spirit of J.D.

[Colette]

So, Ryder is 38, Slater is 40 -- will this be "Heathers: The Middle Ages"?

[Spears]

Yeah, Beetlejuice is a no-brainer for the top 5. That's odd that it also was left out. (Leaving out "Age of Innocence" didn't shock me. It's just plain boring. Sorry, Daniel Day-Lewis.)

[80sfan]

I would have out Beetlejuice in her Top 5 list.

[renee]

i do not see this sequel working at all, especially with a dead JD wandering around. why cant people leave good things alone!

[Spears]

Edward Scissorhands falls in the gray area on the list, I guess. I thought she was okay in that, but that's about it.

Other movies that didn't make the list include:
- Girl Interrupted
- Alien Resurrected
- The Age in Innocence

[Miguel]

Edward Scissorhands is the best movie she`s ever been in,but not her best performance.

Her best performance was probably on The Age of Innocence.

[Mary]

What about her in Edward Scissorhands? I know Johnny Depp blew her away, but she wasn't bad...just my 2 cents.

[DerekT]

Jennifer Morrison from the TV show House played James T Kirk's mom. Oddly her name is Winona Kirk.

[Alyfox/Dan Vhay]

First off, before anyone else pounces on it, Ryder plays SPOCK'S mom in STAR TREK, not Kirk's. Second, oddly enough Christian Slater was in STAR TREK 6, so the circle is complete. And 3rdly, it sound to me that some writer in Hollywood had some average teen angst script, and the only way to get it sold was to add a hook: "Hey, what if it's a sequel to HEATHERS?"