Jesse Metcalfe, known for his smoldering portrayal of the original “love rat” in John Tucker Must Die, recently gave us an update on the long-awaited sequel. And when I say “update,” I mean the kind of news that makes you go, “Oh, so basically nothing is happening.” Earlier this year, we all gasped, cheered, and maybe threw a confetti party when rumors of a sequel script started swirling like a high school drama. But now? Well, grab some popcorn and settle in for the anticlimax.
In a recent interview, Jesse got real—like, brutally real—about where the sequel stands. Spoiler alert: it’s stuck in sequel limbo. “I’ve recently asked about the sequel, and I honestly don’t think there’s anything happening,” Jesse confessed to Us Weekly with the enthusiasm of someone being told they’ve run out of fries. “People are still talking about it. I’d love to help push it forward, but I don’t really know how to do that.”
Same, Jesse. Same. If only willing something into existence was a skill listed on LinkedIn.
But wait, there’s more! The actor, who made John Tucker the ultimate heartbreaker in low-rise jeans, took a minute to reflect on how the original film was received. And spoiler alert again, it was not well received. “I mean, it’s nice to hear that people love the movie,” Jesse said, as if surprised that his most iconic role hasn’t been buried in the same graveyard as flip phones and MySpace. “It was critically panned when it came out. It has like, what? A 24% or 28% rating? Maybe lower?” He joked about its Rotten Tomatoes score, adding, “People really seem to love a movie that’s tanking on Rotten Tomatoes, I guess.”
This is like finding out your childhood crush only had a 2-star rating on Yelp. But hey, some of us are into flawed characters, right?
Now, while the sequel may be chilling in development purgatory for the foreseeable future, Jesse still had nothing but sweet words for his co-stars. “I really liked all the ladies I worked with,” he said, radiating wholesome energy. “They were all great and unique in their own ways. I guess the one common denominator is that they’re all very intelligent.”
Let’s be real: this is what you say when you’re trying to compliment a group without accidentally causing a feud. Smart move, Tucker.
But here’s the real kicker. Rumors have been flying that in the sequel, John Tucker might actually be a dad. Yes, the notorious high school heartbreaker might have a daughter. Jesse was asked if he had any ideas about who should play this mini Tucker, and he gave the most 2023 answer ever. “Honestly, I don’t really know anyone in that age range. I’d have to do some research and get back to you.”
Translation: Jesse’s been too busy working on his tan to keep tabs on the TikTok generation. But hey, he’s all in for discovering “a talented, young, up-and-coming actress,” which is code for “I’ll leave that casting call to someone else.”
The sequel isn’t dead, but it’s not exactly alive either. Much like John Tucker’s relationships. Stay tuned… but don’t hold your breath.
