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25 years after the premiere of Coyote Ugly, the cast reunited in Santa Monica
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The Feb. 26 screening benefitted the Global Empowerment Mission's LA Wildfire Relief efforts.
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Tyra Banks took the reins on the screening, which she helped to organize.
The drink-slinging, fast-moving ladies of Coyote Ugly are making a comeback.
The cast of the beloved 2000 film reunited in Santa Monica on Wednesday night, Feb. 26, for a special screening of the film benefitting Global Empowerment Mission's LA Wildfire Relief efforts. The event also marked the upcoming 25th anniversary of the movie.
Maria Bello, who played Coyote Ugly bar owner Lil, posed with the film's producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, and acknowledged co-star Tyra Banks' role in putting the benefit together.
Michael Tullberg/Getty
Maria Bello and Jerry Bruckheimer at the 'Coyote Ugly' 25th Anniversary event
"The beautiful Tyra Banks called me and said, 'Let's do something. It's 25th anniversary,' " Bello said in her pre-screening remarks.
Banks took the reigns after the screening, moderating a panel discussion with her co-stars and Diane Warren, who wrote the film's songs, including the hit single "Can't Fight the Moonlight," performed by LeAnne Rimes. The America's Next Top Model creator repeatedly tried to get the Coyote cast to sing the tune, though none of them took the bait.
River Callaway/Variety via Getty
Tyra Banks at the "Coyote Ugly" 25th Anniversary event
Piper Perabo, who, along with Zoom attendants Bridget Moynahan and Adam Garcia, noted that rather than quoting a line from the movie, fans who approach her on the street are far more likely to sing one of Warren's songs. "Like you're about to right now," she joked.
Izabella Miko and Melanie Lynskey were all at the Aero Theater along with director David McNally.
Michael Tullberg/Getty
Izabella Miko at the 'Coyote Ugly' 25th Anniversary event
During the panel discussion Miko, who attended in a stunning leopard print jumpsuit, recalled the intense rehearsals for the film's unforgettable dance numbers, which involved the cast strutting their stuff on a bar.
"It feels like it was months, but I don't know if it was months, but it was a long time," she said. "There was just not only the choreography, but also just dealing with fire and water elements. That was great."
"Everybody thinks I was dancing on the bar and I'm so grateful I wasn't," Lynsky said, adding that her co-stars' stunts seemed like "a nightmare."
"I am very grateful I was just there going, 'You go, Violet!' she joked.
River Callaway/Variety via Getty
Melanie Lynskey at the "Coyote Ugly" 25th Anniversary event
Banks first announced the event on Instagram earlier in February. “Alright, listen up!” she wrote on Instagram. “🚨 THIS IS NOT A DRILL!”
“The Coyotes are back for one night only—celebrating 25 years of Coyote Ugly with a reunion, screening, and crazy Q&A unlike any you’ve ever seen! Hint: 🥃” Banks, 51, wrote in the caption.
Related: The Cast of 'Coyote Ugly': Where Are They Now?
In her post, Banks included a slideshow of throwback photos from the movie, which first premiered on Aug. 4, 2000, and made $110 million at the box office. In the last slide was a video of her character Zöe, a bartender, dancing with a ketchup bottle with Moynahan and Bello cheering her on.
Banks promised “a whole lotta trouble.” Other cast members who posted to their social media accounts included Bello, 57, and Miko, 44.
“I haven’t seen some of those girls in 25 years so who knows what might happen!” Bello wrote on Instagram.
In 2018, Banks announced she was looking to make a sequel of the cult classic.
“I’m dying to do Coyote Ugly 2,” Banks told PEOPLE. “I want to produce it — I just need to get the rights from Mr. Jerry Bruckheimer or work with him.”
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Related: LeAnn Rimes Reenacts Famous Scene from Coyote Ugly: 'Do We Serve Water in this Bar…?'
Getty Images
LeAnn Rimes and Piper Perabo in 'Coyote Ugly' in 2000
She gave an update on the project in October of 2020, when she confirmed that a sequel was indeed in the works.
"I literally was supposed to be on a conference call today about bringing Coyote Ugly back," the Dancing with the Stars host said while appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Related: Tyra Banks Emotionally Reveals She Found Out She Lost Her Home in the L.A. Fires While She Was in Australia
Frank Masi/Touchstone/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock Cast of 'Coyote Ugly' in 2000
"We were supposed to be on a call today, and I'm talking to you and I can't talk to them," Banks added to Clarkson. "Yes, we are talking about trying to do Coyote Ugly 2 or a series."
Later in the interview, the supermodel reflected on her audition for the role. "They asked me what song I wanted to play," she told Clarkson. "I was like, ‘Okay, I'll take Prince's 'Kiss.' ... They push play. I'm in this huge hotel room, all these casting people lined up looking at me. And I'm dancing. I'm head whipping."
She continued, "The whole song I ended up dancing. Then after I'm out of breath, and then they all just started laughing. They're like, ‘We are so sorry, but we were enjoying that so much, we kept the music going.' "
