Kirsten Dunst drew praise from fans after saying she would not take part in a reboot of the 2000 cheerleading comedy "Bring It On," telling Entertainment Tonight she prefers to "leave good things where they are." The 43-year-old actress said she was uninterested in appearing in or producing a sequel, and that she has no desire to don a cheerleading uniform again.
"No," Dunst said when asked if she would do a Bring It On sequel. "I'm like, leave good things where they are." When an interviewer suggested she might serve as a producer, she repeated her refusal: "No, no, no, I don't need to put on a cheerleading outfit. I don't even know what I would do, be a coach or something?"
Fans on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, responded favorably to Dunst's remarks. One user wrote, "Finally someone with a good mindset," while another posted, "Exactly! Some classics are perfect as they are, no need to ruin the magic." Other posts noted the franchise's many follow-ups, with one comment pointing out, "There's like 7 sequels."
Dunst originated the role of Torrance Shipman in the original film, which opened in August 2000 and grossed about $90 million worldwide against an $11 million production budget. The movie, which also starred Gabrielle Union, Eliza Dushku and Jesse Bradford, spawned multiple sequels — most released direct-to-video — and a television movie, none of which featured the original principal cast.
Union has suggested a revival has been discussed; in March she told CBR that "there may or may not be something in the works" that several actors have been developing. Dunst has previously said she would consider returning only if the project was not "embarrassing," remarks she made in a separate Entertainment Tonight interview last year.
Her latest comments come amid a steady stream of reboots, revivals and franchise extensions across film and television that have drawn mixed reactions from audiences and critics. The Sex and the City follow-up series "And Just Like That…" concluded its third season in August after receiving negative criticism from some viewers. A reported reboot of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" prompted a public response from original star Sarah Michelle Gellar, who said she would only consider returning if a revival could be done "right." Netflix's announced plans to reimagine "Little House on the Prairie" earlier this year also drew sharp criticism from some fans of the original.
Reboots have provoked debate about whether reworking established properties diminishes the originals or offers new creative opportunities. Dunst's position — that some films are best left untouched — resonated with many viewers who said they would rather preserve the 2000 film's legacy than see it reworked.
Producers and studios have continued to pursue legacy content, sometimes without original creators or stars, and the industry shows no sign of slowing that trend. For now, however, one of "Bring It On's" most recognizable faces has made clear she will not be part of another installment.