The Spice Girls have regained control of the rights to their 1997 film Spice World and are planning a major revival for its 30th anniversary next year. Melanie C confirmed the news on the Louis Theroux podcast, stating that the band now fully owns the movie and intends to make it available to fans.
Film Rights Acquired After Years of Fragmented Ownership
Melanie C explained that the film had been owned by multiple parties, making it unavailable on streaming platforms. “It was kind of all over the place. So we've had to come together. The Spice Girls now fully own it, so we will be presenting it at some point in hopefully the not too distant future for people to enjoy,” she said.
The movie, which was a box office hit in 1997, features cameos from Roger Moore, Richard E. Grant, Michael Barrymore, and Barry Humphries as a Rupert Murdoch-like Australian news baron. A segment with Gary Glitter was cut during editing following his arrest on child pornography charges. Mel recalled: “While the movie was getting edited, we were like, 'Oh, s***, he's got to go.'”
Life Imitated Art for the Pop Quintet
Melanie C noted that the film’s plot—depicting the band’s hectic promotional life—reflected their real experiences. “That was really how we were. That was our experience. You know, we'd been out there, we'd been promoting for a year when we sat down and the movie was being written. So a lot of those experiences that are the through line of the movie were the things that we were experiencing,” she said.
Reunion Hopes and Anniversary Plans
While the band has not yet marked their 30th anniversary this year, Mel confirmed that all five members, including Victoria Beckham, are still involved. “No one's left. I love it. When I'm doing shows and stuff, and if people want to introduce me, when they say former Spice Girl, I'm really offended. Because once a Spice Girl, always a Spice Girl. I think we all feel like that,” she said.
She added that discussions are ongoing for future projects, though nothing is confirmed for the immediate anniversary. “We want to. Everything's in discussion. But it's a really positive time for us. We'll see. There's nothing in the works, so it's obviously not going to be anything in time for the anniversary. But we are discussing lots of great opportunities,” Mel said.
