One ofPaul Rudd’s most memorable movie roles nearly didn’t happen. On the latest episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler, the actor recalled his audition for Amy Heckerling’sClueless,where he was asked to read for the part of Josh Lucas, and how a spontaneous decision could have cost him his big break. After the audition, Rudd dramatically changed his appearance by chopping his long locks down to a buzz cut, which came as a shock to the director, who was considering offering him the role before seeing the haircut. Ugh! As if!
“I wasn’t thinking about it, [and] I was walking past a barbershop and I went in and said, ‘Just buzz my head,'” Rudd revealed. “A week later, I went into a restaurant and Amy Heckerling, who directed the movie, was eating there. She looked at me and froze, and she goes, ‘What did you do?! What did you do to your hair?!'… You auditioned for this part – you were maybe gonna get his part, but you can’t cut your hair.”
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Rudd admitted to being “stupidly cavalier” about the situation, perhaps not realizing how pivotal the role inCluelesswould turn out to be for his acting career. He explained that he had to wear a wig for the screen test, but it didn’t work, so it was lucky for him that his hair grew out to an acceptable length in time for production, otherwise he may have blown his chances of starring alongside Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, and Donald Faison in the coming-of-age teen comedy (whichcelebrates its 30th anniversary this year).
After his memorable turn inClueless, which hit theaters in 1995, Rudd went on to star in numerous comedy films, such asWet Hot American Summer,Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,The 40-Year-Old Virgin,Knocked Up,and many others, before being cast as Scott Lang aka Ant-Man in the MCU —a role that he will reprise inAvengers: Doomsday. He has also taken on another major blockbuster franchise, having played Gary Grooberson in 2021’sGhostbusters: Afterlifeand its 2024 sequelGhostbusters: Frozen Empire.
‘Clueless’ Sequel Series in Development at Peacock
While Rudd is busy partaking in size-shifting superheroics and busting ghosts (because it no doubt makes him feel good), his formerCluelessco-star Silverstone is gearing up to reprise her iconic role as Cher. It was reported in April thata sequel series toCluelesshad landed at Peacockfor development. The project will be written and executive produced byGossip Girlduo Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage together withDollfacecreator Jordan Weiss, while original writer-director Amy Heckerling and producer Robert Lawrence executive produce.
Cluelesswas previously adapted as a TV series in the 1990s, which brought back most of the cast from the original movie. Silverstone was unable to reprise her role due to a development deal with another studio at the time, while Rudd made a guest appearance (though not as Josh) in one episode. There have been multiple efforts in recent years to create a new series adaptation, but for one reason or another, these projects have not moved forward. Hopefully, with Silverstone on board, the upcoming show will find success on the small screen.
Source:Good Hang with Amy Poehler
