In what sounds like a match made in heaven,Past LivesandMaterialistswriter-director Celine Song is reportedly penning the script for the follow-up toMy Best Friend’s Wedding, though she is not in talks to helm the feature. The beloved ’90s rom-com, which sawJulia Robertsand Cameron Diaz getentangled in a love trianglewith Dermot Mulroney, is getting hitched with a sequel, nearly 30 years after the original hit comedy hit theaters. The project is now in development at Sony Pictures, but it is far too early for a “save the date” yet.
While no casting information is currently available, one of the original stars ofMy Best Friend’s Weddingrecently teased “talk of a sequel,“telling the New York Post, “I know nothing about it. Last I heard, quote, lawyers were talking, unquote.” This minor revelation likely prompted fans of the ’90s juggernaut to say a little prayer for it to happen, and it seems that Sony Pictures has answered those prayers, as Collider confirms that the studio is now moving forward with the follow-up film and has already tied the knot with Song to write the script.
The Best Julia Roberts Rom-Com Movies, Ranked
The sensational Julia Roberts has been a commanding presence on the silver screen for three decades, establishing herself as a rom-com queen.
The original film paired rom-com powerhouse Roberts with the effortlessly charismatic Mulroney. The two starred as Julianne and Michael, a pair of best friends who made a pact that if they were still single by age 28, they would marry each other. The plan falls apart when Michael announces that he is set to wed 20-year-old Kimberly “Kimmy” Wallace (which is where Diaz enters the picture). The new union makes Julianne realize that she is in love with her betrothed best pal, prompting her to try and sabotage the wedding before the vows.
My Best Friend’s Weddinggetting a sequel should come as no surprise, as the original film wasa critical and commercial success, ranking among the Top 10 highest-grossing movies of the year upon its release in 1997. Roberts has also previously expressed interest in reprising her role as Julianne. During an appearance onWatch What Happens Livein 2023, she explained why she thought the movie deserved a follow-up, saying, “Because there’s so many people in it, and to see what they’re doing and how Kimmy and Michael’s marriage is going.”
Celine Song Is Coming Off Her Sophomore Directorial Effort
Celine Song is perfectly positioned to write the script for theMy Best Friend’s Weddingsequel, as she has left an indelible mark on the romantic genre in recent years. The playwright-turned-writer-director gained significant recognition for her widely acclaimed breakout filmPast Lives, which was nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards, andreceived overwhelmingly positive reviewsacross the board upon its release in 2023, as evidenced by its 95% critic score and 93% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Song’s sophomore directorial effort,Materialists, was released by A24 in June of this year and earned $50 million at the global box office before being madeavailable for digital streaming. The film received slightly more mixed reviews, earning 79% on the Tomatometer and 67% on the Popcornmeter. However, much of the praise was reserved for Song and her ability to carve a unique voice and style on-screen, as well as the movie’s star-studded cast, led by strong performances from the main trio of Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal.
Past LivesandMaterialistsboth helped to cement Song as a more than capable storyteller, but it will be interesting to see how she approaches a sequel rather than an original story, let alone a title that builds upon one of the most recognizable rom-com films of all time.
Source:Collider
My Best Friend’s Wedding
