Bridesmaids: What Could A Sequel Bring?

The 2011 comedy Bridesmaids was a huge success, grossing over $280 million at the box office worldwide and earning Academy Award nominations for Melissa McCarthy and its script. Despite the film's popularity, a sequel has never been made, and it seems unlikely that one ever will be. Kristen Wiig, who co-wrote the film and starred as Annie, has said that she and her co-writer Annie Mumolo are not really interested in revisiting the characters. Wiig explained that they feel like we told that story and we were just so excited to do other things. Director Paul Feig has also expressed hesitation about a sequel, saying that the original worked because it centred around Annie's calamitous life, and that narrative arc was resolved by the end of the film.

Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo have no plans for a sequel

Despite the success of the 2011 film Bridesmaids, it seems that a sequel is unlikely. The movie's writer and star, Kristen Wiig, has expressed that she is not interested in creating a second instalment of the female-driven comedy. During a SiriusXM Town Hall in 2021, Wiig explained that she and her co-writer, Annie Mumolo, were eager to pursue other creative projects and ideas. The pair stated that they felt they had "told that story" and were excited to move on to new endeavours. Mumolo added that the process of making a movie is lengthy, and after the time and dedication required to make Bridesmaids, they felt they had "purged that out of" them.

Director Paul Feig has also commented on the possibility of a sequel, stating that it is ultimately up to Wiig, as the creator and star of the film. While he acknowledged that a sequel could be "fun", he agreed with Wiig's sentiment that the narrative of the first film had been concluded satisfactorily. He elaborated that the emotional journey of Wiig's character, Annie, was central to the success of the original movie, and a sequel would need to have similar emotional engagement to be successful. Feig suggested that a sequel would have to be more than just "a funny wedding", and the challenge of creating an emotionally engaging narrative for a second film would be difficult.

The cast of Bridesmaids has also weighed in on the prospect of a sequel. Wendi McLendon-Covey, who played Rita in the film, confirmed that there would be no sequel, stating that Wiig herself had said as much. Maya Rudolph, who portrayed the bride-to-be Lillian, expressed interest in revisiting the Bridesmaids world in the future, but acknowledged that it would be a different story, perhaps titled "Old Ladies". Rose Byrne, who played Helen, also expressed measured enthusiasm, suggesting that the cast could reunite for a different movie or a reimagining of the original. Melissa McCarthy, who received an Oscar nomination for her role as Megan, was eager for a sequel, stating that she would do one "this afternoon".

While fans of the film may be disappointed to hear that a sequel is unlikely, it is clear that the creators and cast of Bridesmaids feel they have told the story they wanted to tell. With new projects on the horizon, it seems that Wiig and Mumolo are ready to move on to new challenges and creative endeavours.

Paul Feig, the director, is also not interested in a sequel

Paul Feig, the director of Bridesmaids, has expressed his doubts about a sequel to the hit 2011 comedy. While he acknowledges that a sequel "could be fun", he believes that the unique circumstances that made the original film so successful would be difficult to replicate.

Feig attributes the success of Bridesmaids to the emotional journey of the main character, Annie, played by Kristen Wiig. In the film, Annie is a confident person whose life falls apart after her bakery goes out of business. The narrative centres on her attempts to repair her life and her friendship with the bride-to-be, Lillian (Maya Rudolph). By the end of the film, Annie has healed and resolved her problems, concluding her character arc.

Feig argues that a direct sequel would require undoing this character development and putting Annie through similar struggles, which would feel inauthentic and fall short of the original. He suggests that a successful sequel would need to offer a new narrative with equal emotional engagement, and not just rely on the same formula with a different setting.

Feig respects Wiig as the "keeper of the keys" to the Bridesmaids franchise and acknowledges that the decision to make a sequel ultimately rests with her. He expresses a willingness to participate if Wiig decides to pursue a sequel, but he is not actively pushing for it.

In addition to Feig's perspective, Wiig herself has stated that she is not interested in a sequel. She and co-writer Annie Mumolo feel that they have told the story they wanted to tell and are eager to explore other ideas. Mumolo also highlights the lengthy process of making a movie, suggesting that they have "purged" Bridesmaids out of their system and are ready to move on to new projects.

With both the director and the lead creative forces behind the original film uninterested in a sequel, it seems unlikely that Bridesmaids 2 will come to fruition.

The cast has mixed feelings about a sequel

The cast of Bridesmaids has expressed mixed feelings about the possibility of a sequel to the beloved comedy. While some actors have expressed interest in reprising their roles, others have stated that a sequel is unlikely due to the creative team's desire to explore new projects and the challenges of creating a compelling follow-up to the original film.

Lead actor and co-writer Kristen Wiig has been consistent in her stance that a "Bridesmaids" sequel is unlikely. In an interview with Andy Cohen in 2021, Wiig affirmed that she and co-writer Annie Mumolo were "not really interested" in returning to the world of "Bridesmaids." Wiig elaborated that they felt they had "told that story" and were eager to pursue "other ideas." This sentiment was echoed by Mumolo, who noted the time and effort required to make a movie, suggesting that they had "purged" "Bridesmaids" out of their system.

Director Paul Feig has also expressed skepticism about a potential sequel. He acknowledged that while a sequel could be "fun," the original film's success lay in its exploration of Wiig's character's emotional journey and that a follow-up would need to have similar emotional depth. Feig stated that the decision to create a sequel ultimately rested with Wiig and Mumolo but that he would be on board if they decided to pursue it.

Despite the hesitancy from Wiig, Mumolo, and Feig, some cast members have expressed enthusiasm for a "Bridesmaids"section. Rose Byrne, who played Helen in the film, suggested that while a direct sequel might be challenging, she would be open to reuniting the cast for a different movie or a reimagining of the original. Maya Rudolph, who portrayed the bride-to-be Lillian, shared a similar sentiment, stating that she would be interested in revisiting the "Bridesmaids" world, even if it meant exploring the characters at a later stage in their lives. Melissa McCarthy, who received an Oscar nomination for her role as Megan, expressed a strong desire for a sequel, stating that she would do it "this afternoon."

In conclusion, while some cast members are open to the idea of a "Bridesmaids" sequel, the creative team behind the film, including Wiig, Mumolo, and Feig, have expressed reservations. They have emphasized the challenges of creating a compelling follow-up to the original and their desire to explore new creative endeavours. As such, the possibility of a "Bridesmaids" sequel remains uncertain, with the final decision resting with Wiig and Mumolo.

A sequel would need to be emotionally engaging

The 2011 comedy Bridesmaids was a huge success, grossing over $280 million at the worldwide box office and receiving Academy Award nominations. Despite the film's success, a sequel has never been made and is considered unlikely.

Director Paul Feig has explained that the plot of the original Bridesmaids worked so well because of the emotional journey of the lead character, Annie, played by Kristen Wiig. At the start of the film, Annie is a confident person whose life begins to fall apart after the closure of her bakery. The narrative follows her attempts to repair her life and her friendship with the bride, Lillian (Maya Rudolph). By the end of the film, Annie has healed, and her central issues are resolved.

Feig believes that a sequel would need to have the same level of emotional engagement as the original. He suggests that a simple reunion at a wedding wouldn't have the same pathos. Instead, the story would need to focus on a significant event or challenge in Annie's life that audiences could emotionally invest in. While the original film had a strong comedic element, the emotional journey of the central character is what made it so successful, and a sequel would need to replicate this.

Wiig, who co-wrote the film, has also stated that she is not interested in a sequel. She and her writing partner, Annie Mumolo, feel that they have already told the story they wanted to tell and are eager to focus on new projects. Mumolo has also expressed that a sequel is "not worth doing" unless they can get the story just right, and that the process of making a movie is a lengthy and challenging endeavour.

While a Bridesmaids sequel is unlikely, the cast and crew of the original film have gone on to work on other successful projects, and the legacy of Bridesmaids continues to be celebrated by fans.

A spinoff movie is a possibility

The 2011 comedy Bridesmaids was a huge success, grossing over $280 million at the worldwide box office and receiving Academy Award nominations. Despite the film's success, a sequel has never been made, and it seems unlikely that one ever will.

Kristen Wiig, who starred in the film and co-wrote the script, has stated that she is not interested in a sequel. In 2021, she told Andy Cohen on SiriusXM's Town Hall, "We have said we weren't really interested in, like, going back and writing another one... I just don't want it to be translated as a negative thing, because we obviously love the movie... We feel like we told that story and we were just so excited to do other things."

Wiig's co-writer, Annie Mumolo, echoed this sentiment, saying, "It takes years to get movies made. And Bridesmaids took many years to get made, and because it takes so many years, [we] felt like we purged that out of us."

Director Paul Feig has also expressed doubts about a sequel, saying that the first film worked because it centred around Wiig's character, who was a confident person whose life fell apart, and by the end of the film, she had healed and resolved her problems. He believes that a sequel would need to have equal emotional engagement, and it would be difficult to recreate that dynamic without feeling inauthentic.

However, a spinoff movie is a possibility. Producer Judd Apatow has previously put together new films set in the worlds of his previous projects, such as "Get Him to the Greek" and "This Is 40." With the plethora of memorable characters in "Bridesmaids," one or two could feasibly take over a future spinoff instalment.

Melissa McCarthy, who scored an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Megan, has expressed interest in a sequel or spinoff. Wendi McLendon-Covey, who played Rita, has also offered an idea for a potential spinoff, involving her character's child knocking up a teacher and getting divorced.

While a direct sequel to "Bridesmaids" seems unlikely, the possibility of a spinoff movie centred around different characters in a new story could be an exciting prospect for fans of the original film.

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