Why Kirsten Dunst Changed Her Mind About a Bring It On Sequel

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Kirsten Dunst has no plans to pick up the spirit stick again.

Previously, the actress known for her role in “Bring It On” expressed readiness to reprise her character Torrance Shipman if given another opportunity 25 years since she initially joined cheerleading. However, she now seems to have a fresh perspective regarding any potential sequel to the popular comedy about cheerleading.

“I’m like, leave good things where they are,” Kirsten told Entertainment Tonight at the Sept. 8 premiere of her new film Roofman in New York City. “I don’t need to put on a cheerleading outfit. I don’t even know what I would do—be a coach or something? Let’s leave it.”

In the years that followed the 2000 movie, the four main actors – Gabrielle Union, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, and themselves – all moved forward in their careers. However, the Bring It On franchise persisted with six sequels, each featuring a different cheerleading squad. Occasionally, there have been hints of a reunion among the original cast on screen.

Actually, Kirsten and Gabrielle recently reunited in a Rodarte campaign from 2019, sparking memories of their roles as Torrance and Isis respectively.

On The Kelly Clarkson Show that autumn, Kirsten expressed, “I didn’t realize Gabrielle was part of it as well, and it turned into this massive ‘Bring It On’ vibe.” She continued, “When they mentioned making another film, I replied, ‘Count me in! It would be an absolute blast!’

And just a few years later, Gabrielle shared the status of said movie, noting to Variety in 2023 that “we’ve been developing a sequel forever,” before noting that the process “could be five minutes or 50 years.”

Over the course of time, Kirsten became increasingly uncertain about starring in a new Bring It On movie. When asked by Entertainment Tonight in 2024, she responded, “Well, it’s a maybe.” She continued, “As long as it doesn’t make me cringe.

The actress then recited her squad’s iconic introductory cheer.

She sang in harmony with the film, “Dislike us because we’re stunning.” To which they responded, “We don’t admire you either. We’re cheerleaders, indeed we are. Here’s our roll call!

Read on for behind-the-scenes secrets about Bring It On…

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I can’t help but cherish the iconic film “Bring It On” deeply, as evidenced by my attendance at a special screening held at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles back in August 2024.

She declared to the enthusiastic audience, “I am Captain Torrance,” echoing her character’s signature greeting. “Let’s move forward, Toros!

And she took a moment to gush about how much it meant that the love for Bring It On has endured. 

She exclaimed to the crowd, “This is hands down the most mind-blowing event I’ve ever experienced! I’m simply awestruck. You see, my loved ones are here alongside me. I can’t wait to share this unique experience with all of you. It’s been ages since I watched these films in a theater, surrounded by an audience just like this one. I feel incredibly privileged.

Then, in classic Torrance fashion, Kirsten recited her squad’s iconic introductory cheer.

“Hate us ’cause we’re beautiful,” she chanted along as the movie played. “Well we don’t like you either. We’re cheerleaders, we are cheerleaders. Roll call!”

Read on for behind-the-scenes secrets about Bring It On…

1. The movie was originally called Cheer Fever. 

2. The script for the music video, penned by Jessica Bendinger, proved challenging to sell and almost didn’t materialize. In an interview with MTV News in 2015, she shared her experience: “I visited over 28 places and attended numerous meetings,” she said. “I made approximately 27 proposals because sometimes I would present my idea at a studio only to have them say they loved it, then take it to their superior who also approved, but it would be rejected at the third stage.”

3. Kirsten Dunst, a highly sought-after actress of her generation, wasn’t initially chosen for the role of Torrance. Instead, that honor went to Marley Shelton, who ultimately decided to abandon the project to star in “Sugar and Spice,” a 2001 film about cheerleaders who become bank robbers.

4. At age 17, Dunst was often considered the ideal candidate by the producers. Despite refusing them multiple times previously, she eventually accepted the role following the completion of a “discouraging, poor indie film.” She later shared with MTV News, “I read it and thought, ‘This is a delightful movie.’

5. The character of Isis, captain of the East Compton Clovers portrayed by Gabrielle Union, was modeled after Michael Jordan. No big deal! Moreover, Peyton Reed, the director, shared with Buzzfeed that Union played a significant role in giving Isis her unique voice. In fact, they spent a great deal of time refining and shaping Isis’ character while working on script revisions.

6. There was a significant reason why Union, who had previously starred in popular teen films like “10 Things I Hate About You” and “She’s All That,” decided to take on the role in the movie. In an interview with MTV, she explained, “The cheerleading movie I wanted [‘Sugar and Spice’], they didn’t want to make any of the characters Black. So it’s intriguing that the team unwilling to promote diversity didn’t seem to succeed, while the film addressing social issues, including diversity, did well.

7. James Franco and Jason Schwartzman were among several actors considered for the role of Cliff, Torrance’s rebellious rocker love interest. However, it was Jesse Bradford who stood out as the top choice, despite initial reservations about joining the project. According to executive producer Max Wong, who spoke with MTV, “We had auditioned around 300 people for Cliff, but nobody quite fit like Jesse did.” Bradford then jokingly inquired about getting a convertible car, to which Wong enthusiastically agreed – although he admitted later that it was simply a fib.

9. As a lifestyle enthusiast, I can’t help but admire Missy, Cliff’s sister and Torrance’s unforeseen co-captain with a flair for gymnastics and temporary tattoos. For me, Eliza Dushku from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” was an obvious pick when it came to casting Reed. And let me tell you, she certainly didn’t fall short during the audition.

Dushku admitted to MTV that she was still feeling the effects of a slight hangover and was dressed in all black. Reed then asked her if she could do a split, to which she replied that she wasn’t sure but would give it a try. Lo and behold, she executed a split on the spot, thinking to herself, “Why not? That’s kind of neat.

9. The three members of R&B girl group Blaque, namely Shamari DeVoe, Brandi Williams, and the late Natina Reed, were given the roles in the East Compton Clovers without needing to audition. “We were at the pinnacle of our success,” DeVoe told the Observer. “And we were managed by Johnny Wright and Lisa Lopes, who was our mentor and held creative control over us. We were popular and they approached us.

Since it marked their first foray into acting, the singers sought advice from Union. As Union clarified to MTV, “They were making their debut in film, so guiding them on where the marks are, how the lighting works, and the camera positions was necessary. It was a project where everyone wanted to excel and were prepared to learn and adapt. If it took a community effort, then certainly, it did.

10. The preview for Bring It On includes scenes with the Clovers that aren’t actually in the film. Union explained on TikTok in January 2022 that these additional scenes were filmed after the production had ended, as audiences who watched the movie requested more of the Clovers. The extra footage was included exclusively in the trailer to give the impression that the Clovers had a larger role in the movie than they actually did.

In the realm of movie moments that have left an indelible mark, none quite compares to the playful toothbrushing scene between Torrance and Cliff in the film. Interestingly, this scene was not originally scripted, but rather sparked from a genuine life experience. As I recall, it was during one of my encounters with a certain gentleman in a bathroom setting where things became… awkwardly charming.

Reflecting on that moment in my apartment, an idea struck me: “What if I captured this peculiar yet endearing interaction between two characters?” And so, the iconic scene was born, adding another layer of depth to the film’s narrative.

Instead, Kirsten herself contributed an excellent idea: she covered the side of her mouth while spitting, which I found fantastic. This was solely Kirsten’s idea. (Reed shared this.)

12. Actor Ian Roberts and Reed often improvised Sparky Polastri’s lines during performances, as they found the original scripted role to be humorous but underdeveloped and stereotypical. On the other hand, the signature “spirit fingers” move was pre-planned. They confided this detail to Buzzfeed.

14. During filming, several cast members, such as Dushku and Bradford, were taken into custody in Tijuana. According to Wong’s revelation to MTV News, they had been drinking on the beach when they were apprehended and detained in a Mexican jail.

Dushku made it clear: “No producers stepped in to save us, as some may speculate. There might have been a problem in TJ on one occasion, but we managed to resolve it ourselves. I took charge and there was no instance of producers intervening or ‘bailing us out’.

14. Most of the cast went through a four-week cheerleading boot camp prior to filming. 

As the lifestyle guide here, let me share my personal experience from when I stepped into the shoes of Whitney in Toros. Beyond mastering the dance moves and cheers, we took on the challenge of performing our own stunts, which meant learning pyramids, increasing our strength for them, perfecting tosses, and more – a comprehensive skill set. Each day, we were dedicated to eight hours of practice, with only a brief lunch break in between. It was indeed a demanding and labor-intensive process.

15. (As a dedicated follower) Acquiring the rights to Warrant’s “Cherry Pie” for a small segment of the audition montage could significantly reduce our film’s taut $10 million budget, making it a wise investment in our production.

In his interview with Buzzfeed, Reed mentioned that he remembered the cost of a significant music cue in the film being around $40,000. This was the most expensive element we invested in our production.

16. To make it on one of the squads, there was no faking it when it came to your resume.

In a conversation with DVD News, Reed explained that everyone attending the auditions was required to have rehearsed a cheer in advance. This might have been one of the most embarrassing things for an actor, but it allowed us to assess their rhythm and coordination since not only were they expected to act, but also meet the physical requirements of the roles.

17. Alongside others, Lin-Manuel Miranda composed the music and lyrics for the musical production titled “Bring It On: The Musical,” which staged a brief run on Broadway in 2012. In 2013, it earned two Tony Award nominations, notably for the categories of “Best Musical” and “Best Choreography.”

18. A large portion of the acts showcased by both the Toros and the Clovers involved stunts that are not sanctioned in high school competition settings.

Reed acknowledged in an interview with HuffPost that there are moves in the film that are illegal. He explained that while some of these moves might be acceptable at a collegiate level, they wouldn’t pass muster in high school. If such issues were to arise during the production of the movie, they generally chose actions that enhanced the dramatic impact or visual appeal over adhering strictly to the rules. No worries, we’re fine with it!

19. There was disagreement among the movie crew about how the story should end, particularly regarding who should win the National Championship in the cheerleading competition. Surprise! The Clovers emerged victorious and claimed the championship trophy.

Reed shared with MTV his recollection of a heated discussion about who would emerge victorious, where some argued that as the lead performer, Kirsten’s team, the Toros, should win. However, Reed clarified, “That wasn’t really the case… They gave an outstanding performance, but they ended up finishing second to another team. It was a valuable learning experience for her.

20. Following the unexpected first-place premiere of the film, which garnered a domestic box office revenue of $22 million contrary to earlier predictions suggesting only $6 million, some of the stars reacted with grand enthusiasm.

According to Dushku’s confession to MTV, quite a few of us girls and I ventured out for a night of celebration. We might have even hopped into the pool at Sky Bar, shouting that our movie was number one!

21. The DVD offers an additional conclusion where Torrance and Isis are both enrolled at U.C. Berkeley and part of the cheerleading team jointly.

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2025-09-10 18:50