The 2011 blockbuster comedy Bridesmaids was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $280 million at the worldwide box office and receiving multiple accolades, including Academy Award nominations. Despite the film's success, a sequel remains unconfirmed. Director Paul Feig has explained that the plot of the original worked so well because it centred around the lead character Annie's calamitous life, and that a sequel would need equal emotional engagement to be on par. While star Rose Byrne has expressed interest in a follow-up, lead actress and co-writer Kristen Wiig has stated that a sequel isn't something she wishes to revisit, and co-writer Annie Mumolo has described how the lengthy process of making the first film meant they felt they had got it out of their system.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Production status | Shutdown |
Director | Paul Feig |
Cast | Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd |
Plot | A woman experiences a series of misfortunes after being asked to serve as maid of honor for her best friend |
Release date | TBA |
What You'll Learn
Bridesmaids 2 is not happening
Fans of the 2011 blockbuster comedy "Bridesmaids" have been eagerly awaiting a sequel ever since the original film's release. However, it seems that "Bridesmaids 2" is not happening, and here's why.
Director Paul Feig has expressed his doubts about a sequel, explaining that the first film worked so well because it centred on the main character Annie's calamitous life and her journey of healing and resolution. He believes that a sequel would require another dip in Annie's life, with similar problems, which would seem unrealistic and lack the same emotional engagement as the original. Feig has stated that the decision to make a sequel ultimately rests with the film's writers and stars, Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo.
Wiig herself has stated that a sequel isn't something she wishes to revisit, feeling that the narrative has already been told. Mumolo echoed this sentiment, explaining that the lengthy process of making the first film felt like they had got "Bridesmaids" out of their system. Wiig and Mumolo have since moved on to other projects, including an entirely new film with new characters, "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar".
While some have suggested that a sequel could work with somebody else in the lead role, such as Melissa McCarthy, it seems that a "Bridesmaids 2" led by anyone other than Wiig is also unlikely. McCarthy has stated that she wouldn't want to do a sequel without Wiig, saying, "I know that nobody wants to do it unless it's great. If it is, I will show up wherever those ladies are."
So, while there may be a demand for "Bridesmaids 2", it seems that the creative team behind the original film are not on board, and without their involvement, a sequel is unlikely to happen.
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Director Paul Feig says a sequel is unlikely
Director Paul Feig has explained that a "Bridesmaids 2" is unlikely to happen. The first film, which was released in 2011, was a huge success, grossing over $280 million at the worldwide box office. It also received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for Melissa McCarthy.
However, Feig has stated that the success of the first film was due to the emotional depth of the story, which centred on Kristen Wiig's character, Annie, experiencing a crisis and trying to fix it. He believes that a sequel would require a similar level of emotional engagement, and it would be unrealistic for Annie to go through another crisis. In an interview, he said:
> "That movie worked so well because it was about a woman having a crisis in her life and fixing it. So you don’t want her to have another crisis."
Feig also added that a sequel would likely need to involve a wedding, and he has seen those movies before and they tend to be hit or miss. He said:
> "So to do a sequel, I think you’re basically just gonna have to have a funny wedding. And I’ve seen those movies a million times and some of them are good and some of them are like okay whatever."
While Feig acknowledges that a "Bridesmaids" sequel could be fun, he believes that it would be challenging to create a compelling and emotionally engaging story without retreading old ground. Ultimately, he leaves the decision up to Wiig and her co-writer Annie Mumolo, saying:
> "It’s obviously up to Kristen, she’s the keeper of the keys on that, but it would have to be something that you can emotionally engage in again and not just go, ‘It’s Megan’s crazy wedding in the Bahamas!’ and all kinds of hijinks happen."
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Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo aren't planning a sequel
It seems that a Bridesmaids sequel is unlikely, with both Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo stating that they feel the narrative has been told and that they have no desire to revisit it. Wiig and Mumolo have also moved on to new projects, indicating that they have no plans for a sequel. In an interview, Mumolo described how the lengthy process of making a movie made them feel like they had gotten Bridesmaids out of their system. This suggests that they are not interested in returning to the franchise.
Director Paul Feig has also shot down plans for a sequel, explaining that the plot of the first film worked so well because it centred around Annie's calamitous life, which she was able to resolve by the end of the movie. He believes that it would be unrealistic for her life to take another dip, and that a sequel would struggle to have the same emotional engagement as the original. Feig has stated that the decision is ultimately up to Wiig and Mumolo, as the idea stemmed from them, but that he would be on board if they wanted to create a sequel.
Despite the lack of interest from Wiig and Mumolo, there has been some speculation about a potential sequel. Feig has shared that he would focus the story on Annie's wedding, similar to how the first movie centred around Lillian's wedding. However, this idea has not gained traction with the writers or the studio. Universal Pictures considered signing the original cast for a sequel, but also contemplated moving forward without Wiig.
While a Bridesmaids 2 is unlikely, fans can still look forward to new projects from Wiig and Mumolo. The pair reunited in 2021 for the film "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar", which they co-wrote and co-starred in. They are also set to write a Disney live-action musical comedy, showing that they continue to be in high demand as screenwriters and actors.
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A sequel without Wiig is also unlikely
A sequel to the 2011 blockbuster comedy Bridesmaids is unlikely, according to director Paul Feig. In an interview, he explained that the first film worked so well because it centred on Annie's calamitous life, and that the narrative arc of her healing and resolution meant that a sequel with the same emotional engagement would be difficult to achieve. He said:
> "That movie worked so well because it was about a woman having a crisis in her life and fixing it. So you don’t want her to have another crisis. [...] It would have to be something that you can emotionally engage in again and not just go, 'It’s Megan’s crazy wedding in the Bahamas!’ and all kinds of hijinks happen."
Feig also stated that the decision to make a sequel ultimately rests with Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, who wrote the screenplay and played the lead role of Annie. However, Wiig has stated that a sequel isn't something she wishes to revisit, and Mumolo has described how the lengthy process of making the first film meant that they felt they had got it "out of their system".
While Wiig was the star of the show, the ensemble cast was also a key reason for the film's success. A sequel without Wiig could potentially work with somebody else in the lead role, such as Melissa McCarthy, who became a breakout star following the first movie. However, it is unlikely that the other cast members, such as Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, Ellie Kemper, and Wendi McLendon-Covey, would return without Wiig's involvement.
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Paul Feig has an idea for a Bridesmaids 2 story
Paul Feig, the director of the 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, has shared his thoughts on a potential sequel to the hit film. While Feig acknowledges that a sequel could be "fun", he also highlights the challenges of creating a worthy follow-up to the original. The success of Bridesmaids was due in large part to its combination of sharp humour and emotional depth, with Kristen Wiig's character, Annie Walker, at its heart.
In an interview with Collider, Feig explained that the key to a successful Bridesmaids 2 would be finding a way to recreate the emotional engagement of the first film. The original centred on Annie's personal crisis and her journey of self-healing. Feig suggests that a simple reunion at a wedding wouldn't have the same pathos. Instead, he proposes that the sequel should focus on Annie's wedding, allowing the women to come together again and get into new troubles.
Feig also places the responsibility for a potential sequel on Wiig and her co-writer, Annie Mumolo. He recognises that the success of the first film was due to their creative vision and believes that any follow-up should originate with them. While Feig has expressed his own idea for a Bridesmaids 2, he acknowledges that the final call rests with Wiig and Mumolo.
Despite the challenges and the lack of a confirmed sequel, Feig's comments suggest that a Bridesmaids 2 is not entirely off the table. The director's idea for a sequel, centred on Annie's wedding, highlights his desire to create a worthy follow-up that captures the heart and humour of the original. While the challenges of creating a successful sequel are real, Feig's idea for Bridesmaids 2 shows that he is open to exploring new stories and adventures with the beloved characters.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Bridesmaids 2 is not out and there are no plans for a sequel.
Director Paul Feig has said that while a Bridesmaids sequel would be "fun", it would be difficult to replicate what made the first film so successful. The plot of the original centred around Annie's calamitous life, and her healing resolved the central issues of the film. Feig believes that it would seem unrealistic for her life to take a dip once more, and for her to encounter similar problems.
Paul Feig has said that if there were to be a sequel, he would focus the story on Annie's wedding.
Yes, the success of the first film was due in large part to the ensemble cast, and it is unlikely that the cast would reunite without Kristen Wiig, who has said that she does not wish to revisit the narrative.