FEATURE:
Never Give Up on the Good Times
Will We See a Sequel of the Spice Girls’ 1997 Film, Spice World, and a Full Reunion?
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EARLIER in the week…
PHOTO CREDIT: Alamy
news was circulating that there may be a sequel of the Spice Girls’ film, Spice World. Released in 1997 (the same year the Spice World album came out), it is a film that resonated with fans but received some negative critical feedback. Directed by Bob Spiers, the film was in the same vein as The Beatles' films in the 1960s such as A Hard Day's Night. Although it has some comedic moments and fun, maybe it was more about the relationship of the Spice Girls (Emma Bunton, Geri Horner (née Halliwell), Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, and Victoria Beckham (née Adams). Released in December 1997, the film was a hit at the box office, taking in over $100 million worldwide. The film was panned by critics – though there has been reappraisal since 1997. As a minor fan of the group, I definitely listened to their music and was caught up in a lot of the popularity and tsunami. Their debut single, Wannabe, was released on 26th June, 1996. I do like a lot of their catalogue and play their music a fair bit. I think there were some really strong girl groups in the 1990s. I also think that, if there is a planned sequel to the Spice World film, then the earliest it will arrive is next year. That would tie in with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the group’s second album. Bringing in a Movie Web article, we get more details about a potential sequel to Spice World:
“According to a new report, The Spice Girls have approached an unnamed but "renowned" screenwriter to pen the sequel. Geri Horner, aka Ginger Spice, is said to be the one heading up the proposed project. An unnamed source with knowledge of the situation had this to say about it.
Are the Spice Girls getting ready to make a big screen comeback? Though it has yet to be confirmed by the members of the group, a new report suggests that the immensely popular musical act is gearing up to make Spice World 2. If this goes according to the alleged plan, the movie could be timed to line up with the 25th anniversary of the original next year.
According to a new report, The Spice Girls have approached an unnamed but "renowned" screenwriter to pen the sequel. Geri Horner, aka Ginger Spice, is said to be the one heading up the proposed project. An unnamed source with knowledge of the situation had this to say about it.
"The girls have been talking about how to mark the film's anniversary and are actively considering making a tongue-in-cheek sequel. They have approached a screenwriter who is considering working on the project and making tentative steps forward. It is still in the early stages but they are talking to established names in the business, which proves they are taking a big screen comeback seriously."
Melanie Chisholm (Mel C), Emma Bunton and Melanie Brown (Mel B) are said to be "tentatively" on board already. But the big question mark is Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice. She has been the big holdout in recent years, sitting out The Spice Girl's sold-out reunion tour in 2019. Beckham has stated that she is more focused on her family and business, as opposed to revisiting the past.
"It took me a lot of courage not to go on tour with the Spice Girls again, but to be the one who says, 'You know, I'm not doing it because things feel different now than they used to.' I'd rather concentrate on my family and my company."
Spice World was released in 1997 and was directed by Bob Spiers. Despite largely negative critical reviews, it earned $56 million at the global box office, making it the highest-grossing movie ever made by a musical group at the time. It featured high-profile cameos from other musicians such as Elton John and Meat Loaf. Meanwhile, all five members of the Spice Girls are going to reunite in animated form for a superhero feature being produced by Paramount. The movie was originally expected to arrive in 2020 but last year interrupted every Hollywood studio's plans in a big, bad way. We'll be sure to keep you posted as any further details on the possible sequel are made available”.
I have looked back at Spice World since its release. It is definitely modelled around The Beatles’ films and capturing the friendship of the band and the way their career took off. Less A Day’s Night and a bit more Magical Mystery Tour, there are highlights in Spice World. One can feel the warmth between the group members. The film itself is very much of its time. Those who disliked the Spice Girls took against the film. There has been enough time and distance since 1997 to allow re-evaluation. I think the film is a lot stronger than many gave it credit for. Each of the group turns in a good performance and, with comedic actors like Stephen Fry, Jennifer Saunders and Richard E. Grant popping up, there was a strong cast. I wonder how a second film would happen. It could not be the same sort of vibe and plot as the original. As it has been nearly twenty-five years since the original film came out, the group have gone past their peak and entered a new phase. Perhaps the project will be a more of a documentary – a sort of reunion piece, similar to the upcoming Friends reunion. Rather than Spice World 2 being madcap, bright and the group coping with fame and the rush of success, it might be something calmer and more grounded. I do like the idea of a sequel.
There will be a lot of anniversary features this year regarding the Spice Girls’ debut single and album (Spice). If anything, the Spice World album was even bigger. Having a new film would be interesting. The biggest question remains whether the current four-piece would reunite with Victoria Beckham. Before the group’s final/current album, Forever, was released in 2000, Geri Horner left the band. She came back to the group and toured with them in 2019. I think Victoria Beckham did not feel the need to tour and try and recapture the past. If there was a one-off film to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of Spice World, I could see her coming on board. The reason for me covering these rumours is that the Spice Girls were huge back in the day - and I think that they did get more stick than they deserved. I think their music was a lot wider-reaching than a demographic of young and teenage girls. Listening back now and so many of their songs pop and get you singing along! Spice World is a film that has some great moments that hang together. One is definitely captured by the energy and fun of the film if nothing else. It is intriguing to see whether anything goes ahead. The bigger question would be whether the original five-piece come together for the first time (in a big thing like a film) in the first time in over two decades. Maybe Spice World 2 (or whatever it would be called) would be a modern-day look at the group and how they have progressed. That said, and for those who want a return to the 1990s and the peak of Girl Power, it would be a refreshing and vivacious…
BLAST from the past.