In the case of Christmas movies, there are the outdated classics — It’s A Fantastic Life, A Christmas Carol — after which there are the new classics, like Dwelling Alone and Elf. Nestled into the latter class is the 2005 dramedy The Family Stone. It’s bought all of the makings of a film worthy of your annual vacation rotation: a sprawling but one way or the other additionally cozy New England home, an enormous close-knit household, an more and more awkward Christmas go to, and the stunning late Diane Keaton anchoring all of it as Sybil Stone, the fiercely loving (if not a bit formidable) matriarch.
Does the plot have some severe holes? Certain. Can we care? Under no circumstances. We are able to’t get sufficient of the Stone household, and it appears like there could also be much more of their dysfunctional enjoyable to take pleasure in sooner or later — practically 20 years later, author and director Thomas Bezucha says he’s formally engaged on a follow-up that would carry the Stones again collectively.
Might this actually be occurring? Is it a Christmas miracle? Right here’s what you have to know.
What did Bezucha say a couple of sequel?
In a recent interview with CNN, Bezucha shared that he’s been quietly shaping the story for some time now. His want to complete the script, he says, gained much more poignancy within the gentle of Keaton’s recent passing on the age of 79.
“I’ve been haunted by the lack of Sybil for months now whereas I labored on it, and so this was a blow on a young bruise already. Mentally, I’ve been spending time in that home the place I’ve been lacking her for some time already,” he defined.
That heartbreak, he mentioned, has solely deepened his want to “honor her much more” and “do an excellent job by the remainder of the forged” in making a follow-up.
Has anybody from the unique forged signed on but?
In accordance with Bezucha, he bought “unanimously optimistic responses” when he reached out to the forged to gauge curiosity. Nonetheless, nobody has “formally signed on,” which is smart contemplating the movie hasn’t even been greenlit but by Disney (who acquired twentieth Century Fox, the movie’s unique distributor, in 2019).
Bezucha is evident about one factor, although: He wouldn’t wish to transfer ahead with out the forged that began the Stone household journey. “I’m not within the Brady household reunion with out the unique Jan.”
In the event you want a refresher on the 2005 movie, Dermot Mulroney performs Everett Stone, who’s bringing dwelling his girlfriend, Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker), to satisfy his household. Luke Wilson and Tyrone Giordano play Everett’s brothers, Ben and Thad, whereas Rachel McAdams and Elizabeth Reaser spherical out the Stone household as sisters Amy and Susannah. Craig T. Nelson stars as Kelly, Sybil’s husband and the household patriarch. Claire Danes has a really transient however memorable flip as Meredith’s sister Julie, and Brian J. White performs dream brother-in-law Patrick.
What would a sequel be about?
Effectively, the Stone household, clearly… however aside from that, Bezucha is staying mum. For the reason that film hasn’t formally been sanctioned by the studio but, it could possibly be a sizzling minute earlier than we hear something in regards to the plot, manufacturing timeline, or casting developments.
Nonetheless, that gained’t cease followers from freaking out. Enthusiasm in regards to the challenge has already kicked into overdrive, and who can blame anybody? The film is peak early-aughts vacation consolation.
It feels secure to imagine the film will lovingly revisit Sybil and her legacy inside the household. Perhaps Meredith and Ben bought married. Or Everett and Julie did. Perhaps all of them have children of their very own, and the sequel reveals how they’re attempting to maintain Sybil’s vacation traditions alive — and realizing, in that pursuit, simply how a lot magic their mother dropped at the desk.
The Household Stone is at present streaming on Hulu and Disney+, and that looks like the proper excuse for a rewatch whereas we wait to see whether or not the household reunion of the last decade comes collectively.
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