Tracy Flick Can't Win (Election sequel)

[Cremildo]

Paramount Pictures has announced that Tracy Flick Can’t Win — a sequel to Alexander Payne’s cult classic 1999 comedy Election — is being made for Paramount+. Payne is returning as director, with the original film’s lead Reese Witherspoon to produce and reprise her starring role.

The original film Election based on Tom Perrotta’s novel of the same name watched as the high school teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) found himself on a collision course with the over-achieving student politician, Tracy Flick (Witherspoon).

The sequel is based on a follow-up novel by Perrotta, which was published by Scribner in June. It’s another satirical dark comedy that finds the eponymous Tracy in adulthood and still struggling to fight her way to the top. Payne is once again adapting the screenplay with Jim Taylor. Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter will produce the film for Hello Sunshine, a Candle Media company, alongside Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa of Bona Fide Productions (Election), with Perrotta serving as executive producer. [+]

[mwynn]

Pick Flick.

[Doctor Jack]

Might be the first thing Witherspoon has been in in the last decade that will be watchable.

[Wernski]

I feel cautiously optimistic.

[Jay H.]

I hated the original, and I'm not a Witherspoon fan, so I can't imagine I would like this.

[kylor]

The one character in Election I hated most is getting a more centered role, and they thought this would entice me to see it.. perhaps if Broderick returns then it might twist my arm.

[Gacivory]

Yes, I’m in!

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by kylor

...perhaps if Broderick returns then it might twist my arm.

Zero doubt that this will happen. The entire key to the film is the two of them going off each other. I'm sure negotiations are happening as we speak.

It sounds interesting. And I love that it will give the original film more attention - even now with it's "cult" status, I feel like it's a very underrated film still.

[MikeScott]

The first is a classic. Witherspoon was robbed of an Oscar nomination. I hear the sequel book is great and very dark. Hoping Reese can get that Oscar nomination she should have had for this role in the first place.

[Zillamon51]

Will Broderick wash his balls in this one?

[OnlyJapantown]

Broderick was a big part of why Election worked, he played the part just right. That said, Payne hasn't yet made a bad film in my books, so I have every reason to be excited for this.

[spanky87]

I didn’t know Perotta wrote a sequel to the book until this movie was announced. I’m looking into it now, and it appears that Broderick’s character Jim McAllister isn’t involved in the story. Which makes sense as it would be unlikely for those two to be in a position to be rivals later in life.

The story maintains the high school politics aspect of the original where this time Tracy Flick is vying to become the principal after the current one announces their retirement.

Tracy Flick is a hardworking assistant principal at a public high school in suburban New Jersey. Still ambitious but feeling a little stuck and underappreciated in midlife, Tracy gets a jolt of good news when the longtime principal, Jack Weede, abruptly announces his retirement, creating a rare opportunity for Tracy to ascend to the top job.

Energized by the prospect of her long-overdue promotion, Tracy throws herself into her work with renewed zeal, determined to prove her worth to the students, faculty, and School Board, while also managing her personal life—a ten-year-old daughter, a needy doctor boyfriend, and a burgeoning meditation practice.

But nothing ever comes easily to Tracy Flick, no matter how diligent or qualified she happens to be. Her male colleagues’ determination to honor Vito Falcone—a star quarterback of dubious character who had a brief, undistinguished career in the NFL—triggers memories for Tracy and leads her to reflect on the trajectory of her own life. As she considers the past, Tracy becomes aware of storm clouds brewing in the present. Is she really a shoo-in for the principal job? Is the Superintendent plotting against her? Why is the School Board President’s wife trying so hard to be her friend? And why can’t she ever get what she deserves?

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by OnlyJapantown

That said, Payne hasn't yet made a bad film in my books

You obviously haven't seen Downsizing.

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by Zillamon51

Will Broderick wash his balls in this one?

I'll take care of that for him!

[craigbarr2003]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

Zero doubt that this will happen. The entire key to the film is the two of them going off each other. I'm sure negotiations are happening as we speak.

It sounds interesting. And I love that it will give the original film more attention - even now with it's "cult" status, I feel like it's a very underrated film still.

This is based on the Tracy Flick Can't Win book, which doesn't include his character.

[OnlyJapantown]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

You obviously haven't seen Downsizing.

I have, and liked it!

[murphywmm]

Alexander Payne has been such a consistently excellent director - I enjoyed everything from Citizen Ruth to Nebraska. That being said, it was inevitable he'd have a misstep eventually - as happened with Downsizing. This should be a great project to get him back on track.

I should add that Citizen Ruth really needs to be released on Blu-ray. It's his only movie not to be released on the format and the movie itself remains rather obscure, despite an amazing lead performance from Laura Dern. Now that Paramount owns the Miramax catalogue - and given their association with Payne - maybe they will release it.