Sarah Michelle Gellar to Step in for the Late Shannen Doherty in Possible ‘Mallrats’ Sequel

Sarah Michelle Gellar cherishes the memory of her late friend Shannen Doherty and is eager to pay homage, potentially by stepping into a role Doherty originated in the cherished 1995 film "Mallrats". Kevin Smith, the visionary behind the movie, recently expressed his ambition to create a sequel, divulging in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter that he discovered Gellar had auditioned for "Mallrats" almost three decades ago. This newfound knowledge ignited a concept to move forward with the sequel, despite Doherty's passing in July after a prolonged battle with cancer.

"If given the chance to create 'Twilight of the Mallrats', I’d invite Sarah to fill Shannen's shoes," Smith mentioned, revealing a potential title for the sequel. "Sarah would embody Shannen’s warmth, offering the closest alternative to having Shannen with us." Enthusiastically, Gellar joined the dialogue on Wednesday, expressing her support by commenting, "Here for this idea!!" on an Instagram post about Smith's interview.

In "Mallrats," Doherty portrayed Rene, in a comedic tale of two friends who seek solace at the mall following heartbreak. The film, directed by Smith, featured performances by Jason Lee, Jeremy London, Ben Affleck, and Claire Forlani. Following Doherty’s death, Smith doubted if a sequel would ever materialize, recalling their discussions about her anticipated return to the series. Nevertheless, recent interactions rekindled his optimism, as Smith noted "odd flickers of conversations" suggesting the sequel could serve as homage to the beloved actress.

"The ideal scenario would have been Shannen still with us, executing our original plan," Smith lamented. "While I have personal motivations to make this film, a significant driving force now is the tribute. We all know whom this movie would honor, without a doubt.