Julia Stiles got the 10 Things I Hate About You gang back together on Tuesday night, and the internet is still sniffling. On the October 20 Dedication Night of Dancing With the Stars Season 35, Stiles honored her late co-star Heath Ledger with a contemporary routine. Then five of her former castmates walked onto the ballroom floor and turned the tribute into the reunion fans have wanted for years.
10 Things I Hate About You Cast Reunion at a Glance
| Detail | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Date | October 20, 2026 (Dedication Night) |
| Show | Dancing With the Stars, Season 35 |
| Dance | Contemporary routine with Ezra Sosa |
| Song | “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli |
| Reunited castmates | Gabrielle Union, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, Susan May Pratt |
| Score | 36 out of 40, per Fashion Times |
What Happened During the Cast Reunion?
Stiles and Sosa performed to the song Ledger sang to her in the film’s famous bleachers scene. She wore an outfit inspired by her character, Kat Stratford, according to Yahoo Entertainment. Near the end, a photo of the two actors appeared on screen while audio of Kat’s “I Hate You” poem played, and Stiles placed a flower on the steps, as TODAY reported.
Then came the surprise. When she turned around, Union, Gordon-Levitt, Oleynik, Keegan and Pratt were waiting, TV Insider reported. The group had also filmed a video on the DWTS lot before the show, with Union narrating and Gordon-Levitt calling her the best hype person.
Why Did Julia Stiles Get Emotional?
She said the memories hit harder than she expected. “I was crying in rehearsals today,” Stiles told Variety ahead of the show. She had assumed enough time had passed, but seeing clips of the movie and hearing both their voices brought it all back.
In the pre-dance video, the 45-year-old actress called Ledger “authentic” and said working with him was easy, according to The Blast. She added that she wished she could call him and say how much fans still love the film.
How Did the Cast Come Together?
Stiles asked them herself. She had teased “some special surprises” earlier in the week, TODAY reported, and every one of them showed up. Their presence made the moment feel like a tribute from a family and not a solo number.
The ensemble matters because the film never relied on its leads alone. Union played Chastity, Gordon-Levitt played Cameron and Keegan played Joey, and all three helped turn the teen comedy into a favorite. As a result, the group on stage covered the whole film and not just one romance.
Why Does the Movie Still Hit So Hard?
The 1999 film reimagined Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew as a high-school romance, and Ledger’s serenade became its signature scene. Gil Junger, the film’s director, has said Ledger picked “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” himself, according to TODAY’s 20th-anniversary piece. The choice also fit the story, because Patrick wins Kat over by being earnest in public.
Nostalgia explains the rest. Fans who first saw it in theaters now watch it as adults, and younger viewers keep discovering it. This week’s reunion simply gave both groups a reason to rewatch.
What Is Confirmed and What Is Not?
Confirmed by multiple outlets: the dance, the song, the five castmates and the 36-point score. TV Insider also reported that the show eliminated no one that night because of the emotional mood.
Not announced: any sequel, remake or new reunion project. The gathering was part of Stiles’ tribute, so nobody should treat it as a sign of a new film.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Julia Stiles pay tribute to Heath Ledger on DWTS?
She dedicated her Dedication Night dance to her late 1999 co-star, and she said the performance was meant to honor his legacy and the film fans still love.
Which 10 Things I Hate About You cast members reunited with Julia Stiles?
Gabrielle Union, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan and Susan May Pratt joined her at the end of the dance.
What song did Julia Stiles dance to in the Heath Ledger tribute?
Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” the song Ledger’s character sang to Kat in the movie. Ezra Sosa partnered her in the contemporary routine.
How did Heath Ledger die, and how old was he?
Ledger died on January 22, 2008, at 28 from an accidental overdose of prescription medication, according to Fox News and USA Today.
What Comes Next for Julia Stiles?
Stiles’ dance gave her a high score and a viral moment, and it returned a beloved movie to the spotlight. Fans now wait to see how she handles next week’s episode. In the meantime, plenty of them are queuing up the original film.
Faizullah Baig
Entertainment & Digital Culture Writer at WordPlay2018
Faizullah Baig is a writer at WordPlay2018 covering entertainment, celebrity news, movies, television, pop culture, and digital trends.
His work focuses on explaining current entertainment stories in a clear and reader-friendly way, with attention to the details behind trending headlines.
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Faizullah primarily covers:
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