Rachael Leigh Cook Is 'Thrilled' “Josie and the Pussycats” Had a 'Resurrection,' but Isn't Waiting on a Sequel (Exclusive)
Rachael Leigh Cook Is 'Thrilled' “Josie and the Pussycats” Had a 'Resurrection,' but Isn't Waiting on a Sequel (Exclusive)
Meredith WilshereSun, March 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC
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Rosario Dawson, Rachael Leigh Cook and Tara Reid in 'Josie and the Pussycats'Credit: Universal Studios/Getty -
Rachael Leigh Cook starred in the 2001 film Josie and the Pussycats alongside Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson
Cook tells PEOPLE she’s thrilled the movie found an audience despite its initial box-office "flop"
The actress says she’s not expecting a sequel but is proud of the original project
Rachael Leigh Cook is "thrilled" to see that Josie and the Pussycats is finally having its moment 25 years after the film's release.
The actress, 46, tells PEOPLE that she's been seeing a lot of love for the movie despite mixed reviews when it first came out in 2001.
"People are rediscovering that movie after it being considered an absolute box-office flop and only getting its flowers as it were in the last couple of years, maybe the last decade or so," the She's All That actress shares.
She notes that it "feels awesome" that people are finally coming around to the musical comedy.
"I don't know what to say. Better late than never," she continues. "I'm just grateful for it. It's easy to make a movie that just sort of falls into the abyss. I've certainly made a lot of those, and I'm not saying they all deserve the Josie resurrection and treatment, but I'm just glad that this very deserving movie ultimately found an audience."
'Josie and the Pussycats' cast: Tara Reid, Rachael Leigh Cook and Rosario DawsonCredit: Universal Studios/Getty
Still, Cook shares that she doesn't feel "mad" or "slighted" that it took so long for the movie to land.
"I'm just glad that things panned out the way that they did ultimately," Cook confesses. "They can start small and pay off over time. Maybe this will make other movies that deserve more attention or more credit, maybe it'll bring them out of the woodwork as well."
Josie and the Pussycats, based on the Archie Comic series of the same name, was released in 2001. In addition to Cook, it starred Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson as the titular band members.
The movie debuted to a dismal box-office run and less-than-stellar reviews, but the flick has since become a cult classic. The satirical campy film also starred Alan Cumming, Parker Posey, Gabriel Mann, Paulo Costanzo and Missi Pyle.
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The music, Cook shares, is something she's always happy to hear, but she takes "zero credit" for any of it.
"That soundtrack is amazing, and I love it. Whenever I hear one of those songs, I'm happy to hear it," she tells PEOPLE. "Some of the DuJour songs were my absolute favorites; those are great, but probably 'Spin Around' and '3 Small Words' were my two favorites. Much credit to Deb [Kaplan], Harry [Elfont], and Kenny Edmonds, and what a dream team."
On the idea of revisiting the film for a reboot or sequel, Cook says, "I don't think I would need to touch it myself."
"I'm proud of what we made. Maybe if they did some time traveling, maybe there's something that could be weird and interesting," she says.
Rachael Leigh CookCredit: Amanda Edwards/Getty
Ultimately, she shares, "I do not think that there's any talk of anything like that."
"It took long enough for people to get it the first time. We're not gonna push our luck, I don't think," she adds.
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The actress, however, is no stranger to revisiting things from her past. She recently remade her "This Is Your Brain on Drugs" advertisement for Beekeeper's Naturals, designed to combat allergy season. The spot, titled N.O.S.E (Natural Options for Sinus Ease), stars Cook in a play on her iconic D.A.R.E commercials from the '90s.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
