1989’s Heathers earned three Independent Spirit Awards nominations (winning one) and a Sundance Film Festival nomination, but it didn’t exactly set the box office on fire when it debuted on March 31, 1989. A very limited theatrical release raked in $1.1 million domestically before the film exited theaters. However thanks to home video, Heathers has reached cult classic status.
Heathers was directed by Michael Lehman from a script by Daniel Waters and starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. The dark comedy’s set in an Ohio high school and follows the Heathers – the most popular girls in school – as one of their own begins to realize she no longer wants to be part of this exclusive clique.
Paramount Network’s set to launch a new version of Heathers with the March 7, 2018 premiere of a series inspired by the ’80s comedy. Season one of Heathers stars Grace Victoria Cox (Under the Dome) as Veronica Sawyer, James Scully as JD, Melanie Field (Wicked) as Heather Chandler, Brendan Scannell as Heather Duke, and Jasmine Mathews as Heather McNamara.
Heathers fans can expect to see one of the stars of the original film, Shannen Doherty, show up as a guest star in a few episodes.
The series comes from writer, executive producer, and showrunner Jason Micallef (Butter), with Lesley Headland executive producing and directing multiple episodes. Gary Lucchesi and Brad Gardener also serve as executive producers.
The Plot: Set in the present day, “good girl” Veronica Sawyer (Cox) deals with a very different but equally vicious group of ‘Heathers.’ Heather Chandler (Field) is the unconventional leader of this popular high school clique and rules Westerburg High through fear, intimidation and amazing fashion sense.
Heather Duke (Scannell) is Heather C’s #1 sidekick and harnesses the Heather’s power to destroy whoever he views as a total discount hobgoblin. Heather McNamara (Mathews) is considered the nicest Heather in the group who lives in the shadow of the others. She’s hiding a dark secret that she doesn’t want to be exposed. JD Dean (Scully) is the new boy in town with a dark side and sets out on a reckless path of destruction proving that no one, even his girlfriend Veronica is safe.
Edited on February 28, 2018. Statement by Paramount Network: “Paramount Network’s original series Heathers is a satirical comedy that takes creative risks in dealing with many of society’s most challenging subjects ranging from personal identity to race and socio-economic status to gun violence. While we stand firmly behind the show, in light of the recent tragic events in Florida and out of respect for the victims, their families and loved ones, we feel the right thing to do is delay the premiere until later this year.”
Edited on June 1, 2018: Paramount Network has decided not to move forward with Heathers. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter Paramount Network’s President of Development and Production Keith Cox said, “This is a high school show, we’re blowing up the school, there are guns in the school, it’s a satire and there are moments of teachers having guns. It’s hitting on so many hot topics. This company can’t be speaking out of both sides of its mouth, saying the youth movement is important for us and we’ve done all these wonderful things to support that and at the same time, we’re putting on a show that we’re not comfortable with.”
