Katie Couric Reunites ‘The Parent Trap’ Cast for the film’s 22nd Anniversary

On Monday, TV personality, Katie Couric, reunited the cast of the 1998 classic, The Parent Trap in honor of the film’s 22nd anniversary. The cast gathered together for the first time since the film debuted in 1998. Hosted by Couric, the special event featured attendance from stars Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Elaine Hendrix, Lisa Ann Walter, and Simon Kuntz. Along with director, Nancy Meyers and producer, Charles Shyer.

Couric, who had first teased the news over the weekend, got the cast together for a virtual reunion that was filled with laughs and fond memories. The event was also organized to benefit Chef Jose Andres’ charity, World Central Kitchen. Which provides fresh and healthy meals to communities that need it the most.

Together, the cast celebrated more than two decades of the family comedy’s legacy. The group opened up about their favorite scenes, remembered their late co-star, reenacted lines and touched upon justice for its characters.

“Without this movie, I wouldn’t have gotten the acting bug”

The cast began by discussing how Lindsay managed to secure her double roles. In the family comedy, Lohan portrays twin sisters, Annie and Hallie, who hatch an elaborate plan to bring their divorced parents back together. This comes after the girls discover that they are identical twins during a chance encounter at a summer camp.

Lohan, who played a double role surprised viewers with her incredible performance. So much so, that she even had Dennis Quaid confused if the actress had an actual twin. Charles and Nancy revealed that the film had narrowed it down to 6 other girls at the time, but within minutes, an 11-year-old Lindsay captured their hearts. “She was one of the most talented people I’d ever met,” Dennis said during the reunion. “You were a natural.”

The actress revealed that apart from her wigs, her parents’ actual divorce at the time helped her in figuring out the characters. “I didn’t feel like I was working,” Lohan said. “It just felt like a really incredible experience for me and a lot of fun. My parents were kind of separating at the time when this was all going on. And it made it a lot easier for me to play these characters that were figuring it out,” she said. “I just felt so lucky and really blessed by Nancy [Meyers, director] and Charles [Shyer, producer]. Without this movie, I wouldn’t have gotten the acting bug.”

“There’s this whole generation who thinks Meredith is #goals”

The cast shifted attention to Hallie and Annie’s Cruella de Vil, their father’s young, gold-digger fiancee, Meredith Blake. Elaine Hendrix, who played the undisputed villain, explained how the perception of her character has changed since the film was released. “Let’s talk about this because, at the time, yes, she was a nightmare. But Meredith has really come around now.”

She also pointed out her character’s recent surge in popularity with millennial women, who have given Blake a modern feminist approach. “There’s this whole generation who thinks Meredith is #goals. There was this online campaign and hashtag, #JusticeforMeredithBlake. And I’m like, right on, yes! Meredith is getting her dues.”

Reminiscing and Reenacting Scenes

Although it’s been nearly two decades since the film released on the big screen, Lohan still remembers the elaborate secret handshake she shared with Martin. The cast and crew reflected on some of their favorite scenes. Including Meredith being stranded out at sea, and the first time Martin (Simon Kuntz) and Chessy (Lisa Ann Walter) met. Dennis and Lohan reenacted some of their favorite scenes from the movie. One of them being, when Hallie first meets her father and can’t stop using the word “dad.”

Remembering Natasha Richardson

The cast also paid a special tribute to Natasha Richardson, who played Elizabeth James, the popular designer and the girls’ mother. The cast fondly recalled the actress who died of blunt force trauma in an unfortunate skiing accident back in 2009. She was 45 at the time.

Lindsay recalled her on-screen mother,”Natasha had such an elegance and grace, and she was so maternal to me.”

Dennis Quaid, who played her ex-husband, Nick Parker, said that Richardson was “somebody so giving and so glad to be there. She transmitted that joy of being able to do what we do. It just made everything that much better.”

The British actress is survived by her husband, Liam Neeson, and their two sons, Michéal Neeson and Daniel Neeson.

“It’s timeless and special”

The crew went on to discuss the timeless classic’s lasting impact. “The most incredible thing about The Parent Trap in itself, is even this generation and little kids that go to camp, know it now,” said Lohan. “It’s timeless and special and I just feel really blessed to have been a part of it.”

Lisa Ann added, “It makes you believe in the possibility of love.” Nancy added that she believed it has to do with the film’s magic. “The idea that somewhere else, someone just like you is living out their life.” She also credited the success of the movie to Lindsay, calling her a star. “When it comes down to it, this movie just had some sort of stardust that was sprinkled on it,” Dennis said.

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