Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

Plot:

Josie and the Pussycats are a struggling garage band until discovered and promoted by MegaRecords. They make it big but discover that subliminal messages are being put in their songs to control America's youth. They must then decide between their fame and doing the right thing.

News:

5 March, 2001

The trailer for the big screen adaptation of the comic book/animated series Josie and the Pussycats is now online. It's a fast montage of the band and their music for the most part. It takes a few good potshots at the music industry along the way. Hopefully the rest of the movie will hold on to that tone.

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25 October, 2000

Filming was taking place recently in Vancouver, BC in Canada. The Pacific Coliseum was playing host to a mock rock concerts by the Pussycats. Comics2Film nabbed a nifty report from one of the extras working on the scene.

"I was an extra in it at the Pacific Coliseum yesterday. They were shooting the ending and this is what I have inferred from it.

"Josie & the Pussycats are a small band that become famous...she puts on her first big gig and all the audience members copy her (we were all given cat ears that were headphones and we had to copy her....putting them on, and off) and they play their first song and at first the crowd isn't sure that they like it or not. Soon, they get really into it, and start screaming, while Josie is shocked."

Warning Major Spoilers Follow

"After awhile, Alan M. comes through the crowd (crowd surfing) and says 'Josie, Josie....'. Josie says 'Alan M is that you?' (They had to shoot that scene over and over!) Basically, he tells her he loves her and that Alex told her that Josie gig was off, and that's what he hadn't shown up. Josie says 'Alan M., I've always loved you and I always will.' Then they share a *very* passionate kiss, and the crowd goes wild! The concert resumes, with Alan M. dancing at Rachel's side."

End Spoiler Warning

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10 October, 2000

A few more of these photos popped up over at American Mule. These don't really tell us anything about the movie since they are strictly promo shots but... well it's what we've got to go with so enjoy.

3 October, 2000

Say hello to the Pussycats. This is the first known photo of the the band as they will appear in the movie. Try not to drool on the keyboard guys.

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12 July, 2000

According to Comics2Film Paulo Costanzo (Road Trip) is going to be joining the cast. He will be playing the part of Alexander Cabot, one of the Pussycats managers and brother to Parker Posey's character. Filming should begin on August 21.

14 June, 2000

What we have here is a promotional display being used for a licensing show in New York. It doesn't actually show anything but gives a hint of the movie's style.

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18 May, 2000

Perfect timing. The last of the three Pussycats was cast yesterday and today Stax shows up on our doorstep with a review of the script. We covered the details yesterday so let's get right to the comments.

Kaplan and Elfont never forget that the Pussycats are still "just girls," naïve and playful over-grown kids. But their sweetness only makes them endearing for so long. The Pussycats may be easy on the eyes but they are also incredibly ditzy and downright grating at times. When they were together they reminded me of those clusters of teenage girls you see on the train or at the mall who sing in unison or go around giggling and yelling in public. They seem to be having the time of their lives but the rest of us could do without all the squealing, thanks. Like these roving packs of caterwauling pseudo-Spice Girls, the Pussycats' looks and charm can't disguise their vapidity.

To read the entire review, head to Stax's new home at FilmForce.

17 May, 2000

Rosario Dawson (Light It Up) has signed on as the third and final member of the Pussycats. She will play Val. Tara Reid and Rachael Leigh Cook will play the other two Pussycats, Melody and Josie respectviely.

The movie will be based on cartoon and comic of the same name. Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan will direct from their own script. It will be about the Pussycats being discovered and used by an evil recording label to brainwash American youth.

25 April, 2000

According to Variety, Gabriel Mann (Outside Providence) has joined the cast of Josie and the Pussycats. He will be playing Josie's boyfriend. In the cartoons and the comic that character was called Alan M.

30 March, 2000

We've known for awhile now that Rachel Leigh Cook has signed on to the lead role of this adaptation of the old comic/cartoon series. Now some more casting news is appearing. Indie film queen Parker Posey has officially joined the cast. She will play the part of an evil record company president who tries to manipulate the Pussycats. Alan Cumming is in negotiations to join the cast as well. He would play Posey's right hand man. Finally Tara Reid is in negotiations to play the Pussycats drummer.

The plot has Posey's company trying to brainwash American teens by putting subliminal messages in their music. The Pussycats are discovered and hired by Cumming's character. They get wind of the plan and must expose it before it succeeds.

Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan will direct the movie from their own script. Filming should begin this summer.

The cast is shaping up to be a quality one but it's still hard to believe that this will be a great movie. It just has cheezy written all over it. That's not necessarily a bad thing of course. I happen to like cheezy.

29 February, 2000

We know that Rachel Leigh Cook is going to be Josie but the rest of the band is still uncast to date. The rumor mill says that Julia Stiles (Down To You), Tara Reid (American Pie)and T-Box and Left Eye of TLC are all being considered for the roles.

9 February, 2000

They're not kidding around. They actually intend to make this movie! Oh the humanity! Whoops, got a little carried away there. Anyway, it appears that Rachel Leigh Cook (She's All That) has been cast as Josie in the movie. Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan will be directing. Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and his wife Tracy are in negotiations to produce the movie's music which is at this point unwritten. Cook apparently wants to do her own singing in the film. Although at this point it is unknown whether that will actually happen or not. The film is going to be a satire of current pop culture and music.

18 January, 2000

The fact that this is seriously going to be made just makes my head hurt. Why on earth do we need a movie based on the cartoon Josie and the Pussycats? Anyway, below you will find a casting sheet for the movie. It gives all the basic details of who is making it and what they're looking for in actors.

Universal Pictures
Josie and the Pussycats
Feature Film
Draft 12/3/99

Producer: Marc Platt
Directors: Deborah Kaplan/Harry Elfont
Writers: Deborah Kaplan/Harry Elfont
Casting Director: Joseph Middleton, CSA
Start Date: Approx. April 2000
Location: LA

Josie McCoy (18-22): This shy, noble, 'sexy' young redhead is the lead singer and guitarist for her band, the Pussycats. Josie, whose mother was a talented, though unsuccessful musician, has dreams of becoming a huge rock star. Unfortunately, she doesn't have much confidence, and wiles away her time with her band pals, Val and Melody, performing for any neighborhood kid who happens to wander into her living room. She has a secret crush on her best friend, Alan M., and is finding it increasingly difficult to hide her feelings from him. After a chance meeting with MegaRecords exec Wyatt Frame, Josie's band becomes an instant hit. But soon discovers that their success has little to do with their talent?

Val Brown (18-22): African-American, 'tough and foxy,' she is the Pussycats' bass player, a die-hard do-gooder who is a soft touch for every charity that crosses her path. Val is very close to her bandmates, who do everything together. But after they are signed by MegaRecords, she begins to have her doubts about her equal standing with Josie, and confides in fellow band member Melody about her concerns. She later barely escapes death when the thugs dispatched by Flora try to strangle her?

Melody (18-22): She is the band's drummer, blond, gorgeous, and an animal lover whose innocence makes her very alluring. Convinced that she has psychic powers, Melody is forever trying to levitate spoons and predict the future. Unfortunately, she fails to forsee MegaRecord's ulterior motive for signing the Pussycats, and winds up being attacked by goons on a mission to kill both her and Val?

Alexandra Cabot (18-22): Bitter, sarcastic, rich, 'skunk-haired,' and over-coifed, she is Alexander's pampered sister, and the 'perpetual thorn in the band's side.' Alexandra never has a nice word to say about the Pussycats. In fact, her only reason for hanging around the band is to stay close to Alan M.; he's the man of her dreams, and her relentless pursuit of him causes her to continually make a fool of herself?

Story line: An all-girl garage band finds instant fame and fortune after signing with a major record label, but soon discover that their talent has little to do with their initial success...

22 December, 1999

Speaking of movies that shouldn't be made, let's turn our attention to the Archie movie and the Josie and the Pussycats movie. Universal is apparently not terribly interested in making the Archie movie. They had been in talks with Jennifer Love Hewitt and Rachael Leigh Cook to star as Betty and Veronica respectively. The whole project has now been in turnaround so don't expect much from this. Universal is actually more interested in the Pussycats. Plans are to turn the comic into a musical. Imagine that.