Demi Moore on ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ Sequel and the Punishing Lengths She Went to Pull Off ‘The Substance’

As a cinephile who’s been following the industry since the VHS era, I must say the news about the potential St. Elmo’s Fire sequel has me reminiscing about my own college days! The Brat Pack was a defining part of my formative years, and the thought of seeing those characters again, decades later, is quite enticing.


The Brat Pack may be getting back together.

Demi Moore, who’s creating quite a stir with her performance in “The Substance,” has shared that talks are ongoing with Sony, the producers of “St. Elmo’s Fire,” about potentially making a follow-up to the iconic 1985 movie.

Moore stated during a Toronto Film Festival interview that discussions are indeed taking place. The studio has shown strong support and initiative in this matter. From what I understand, everyone appears enthusiastic about the project, which I believe could result in something spectacular.

The initial film delved into the experiences of a bunch of fresh college graduates as they grappled with the challenging phase of young adulthood, marked by relationship conflicts and job-related stress. It further boosted the popularity of Moore and her co-stars like Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, Mare Winningham, Judd Nelson, and Andrew McCarthy (who recently produced a documentary titled “Brats,” revisiting the uproar that surrounded this group of actors, famously referred to as “The Brat Pack” in a sarcastic New York Magazine article). Moore has confirmed that there’s no script prepared for the sequel yet and that the production company is seeking the perfect collaborator to write it.

Then I imagine we’d all likely dive in to discover who these people are, this many years later,” Moore hinted during a visit to the Toronto Film Festival Studio, sponsored by J.Crew and SharkNinja. “That film was truly transformative for everyone involved. And…working with Andrew McCarthy on his documentary…it would be an absolute pleasure.

Regarding “The Substance,” the movie that earned a 13-minute standing ovation at Cannes, Moore shares her satisfaction with the strong reaction from audiences. The story revolves around Elizabeth Sparkle, a renowned actress who transitions into a fitness guru, but faces a personal dilemma when she’s fired from her TV hosting job due to ageism and sexism from an executive. As a result, Elizabeth resorts to taking a mysterious substance that produces a younger version of herself (played by Margaret Qualley), who takes over the show and becomes an instant sensation. The film is a sharp critique of Hollywood’s fixation on youth and superficial beauty ideals.

Moore stated, ‘It has affected people.’ I guess what he means is that he wishes it might spark a transformation in our society, becoming something we regularly discuss. This conversation could potentially nudge things forward, helping us realize the value of treating ourselves with greater tenderness and kindness.

Creating the film was an extremely demanding physical journey. Known as “The Substance”, this body horror movie (a genre unfamiliar to Moore) portrays Elizabeth undergoing a literal transformation by shedding her skin to metamorphose into another being. Throughout the film, as the substance takes its toll and forces Elizabeth to appear haggard and aged beyond her years, Moore was compelled to adopt painful postures. She collaborated with a movement coach to ensure she didn’t injure herself while spending extended periods in a hunched position.

Additionally, she needed to undergo prolonged makeup application and pose for multiple body casts, a procedure that could last between six to nine and a half hours.

Moore suggests that the extreme measures taken by Elizabeth to maintain her youth resonate with individuals, not just those within the entertainment industry, but also a broader audience.

She emphasized that this topic is crucial and applicable, not only for women, but for everyone, as human beings,” she stated.

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2024-09-08 00:16