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Tank-Girl-Lori-Petty.jpg

Lori Petty and Rachel Talalay Toast 'Tank Girl's 25th Anniversary By Spilling Secrets On Twitter

By Kristy Puchko | Film | March 31, 2020 |

By Kristy Puchko | Film | March 31, 2020 |


Tank-Girl-Lori-Petty.jpg

Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of Tank Girl, an audacious comic-book adaptation that starred Lori Petty as a badass bombshell with no fear and plenty of flare. Directed by Rachel Talalay, the film tanked at the box office. But over the decades, it’s become a beloved cult favorite. So, to celebrate its legacy, Talalay and her leading lady reunited on Twitter for a tweet-along rewatch celebration with the hashtag #TankGirlLives

Here’s what we learned from following along.

Lori Petty did a lot of ad-libbing, much to the delight of her director.

But it wasn’t all fun and games for Petty.

Talalay shared a behind-the-scenes secret of how the shower room changed from script to screen.

She also shared some studio notes.

Even in an R-rated movie, some things were censored.

The kangaroo-man hybrids known as the Rippers were designed by the late special effects master Stan Winston.

Ann Cusack pops up to play an eccentric pack rat, but she was intended to play Sub Girl.

A lean budget meant a lot of other big ideas had to be cut or swapped for cheaper solutions, like comic page inserts.

Playing a Ripper was rough.

Less so if you were Ice-T.

Petty wants you to know her onscreen beastie beau was hung.

Doug Jones (Hellboy, The Shape of Water, Star Trek: Discovery) was one of the “additional Rippers.” I had a guess on which one.

Jones confirmed!

Other future big names helped mold the magic of Tank Girl, including Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke, who was this movie’s production designer.

West Wing’s Richard Schiff played a gun-toting creeper who watch Petty’s scissor play striptease.

The second unit director for Tank Girl went on to direct a much-adored comic book movie in 2018. We’re talking animation mastermind Peter Ramsey of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse.

Helmer of the movie adaptations of the Broadway musicals Rock of Ages and Hairspray Adam Shankman was the choreographer for the classic Tank Girl tribute to Cole Porter.

Musicians got in on the fun too. Punk rock icon Iggy Pop agreed to pop in to play a pervert. Talalay shared why, while Petty shared his penchant for peanut butter.

Courtney Love had thoughts on the soundtrack.

Plus, we have Tank Girl to thank for the creation of The Spice Girls.

Check out EW’s anniversary interview for the hilarious true story.

And that’s all folks.



Header Image Source: United Artists