The Possibility Of A Bridesmaids Sequel: What We Know

The 2011 comedy blockbuster Bridesmaids was a sensation when it hit the theatres, grossing over $280 million at the worldwide box office. The movie's success raised the profiles of its director, Paul Feig, and star/co-writer, Kristen Wiig. However, despite the clamour for a sequel, it seems that Bridesmaids 2 is unlikely to happen. Feig has stated that the movie worked so well because it centred on Wiig's character, who was confident at the beginning of the movie but then experienced a crisis and had to repair her life. He believes that a sequel would require a similar emotional journey for the character, and that a simple rehash of the original premise wouldn't be satisfying for audiences. Wiig herself has also stated that she doesn't want to do a sequel, feeling that the story has already been told. While some cast members have expressed interest in a reunion, it seems that a Bridesmaids sequel is not in the works.

Director Paul Feig has shut down plans for a sequel

Director Paul Feig has shut down plans for a "Bridesmaids" sequel, citing the original's narrative conclusion and the challenge of replicating its success. In 2017, Feig explained that the first film worked because it centred on Kristen Wiig's character, Annie, experiencing a crisis and repairing her life. He believes a sequel would require a similar emotional journey, and simply re-creating the comedic moments wouldn't be enough. Feig also emphasised the importance of an engaging narrative, suggesting that a sequel would need more than just a "crazy wedding" and hijinks to be successful.

Feig's comments align with those of Wiig, who co-wrote the original "Bridesmaids" and starred as Annie. In 2014, Wiig expressed her reluctance to revisit the first film, stating, "I think it's OK to have it just be what it was." This sentiment was echoed by Annie Mumolo, who co-wrote "Bridesmaids" with Wiig. Mumolo indicated that the time and effort invested in creating the original film meant that they felt they had already "purged that out of [them]".

Despite their hesitancy, Feig and Wiig have left the door open for a potential sequel, acknowledging that it would ultimately be Wiig's decision. Feig has even shared his idea for a possible "Bridesmaids 2," suggesting that the story could focus on Annie's wedding. However, both creatives believe that the challenge of creating a worthy follow-up to the beloved original is a significant obstacle.

The success of "Bridesmaids" and its impact on the careers of those involved, including Feig and Wiig, further complicates the prospect of a sequel. Since "Bridesmaids," Feig has directed popular comedies such as Spy and Ghostbusters, while Wiig has starred in numerous films and TV shows, including The Martian and Wonder Woman 1984. The high bar set by the original and the busy schedules of its key creatives make a "Bridesmaids" sequel seem increasingly unlikely.

Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo don't feel a sequel fits their creative goals

Despite the success of the 2011 comedy "Bridesmaids", which earned $288 million worldwide and received two Academy Award nominations, writers and stars Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo have no plans for a sequel. The pair have stated that they felt they had finished telling the story with the first film and were excited to work on new projects.

In an interview with Andy Cohen on Sirius XM's "Radio Andy", Wiig and Mumolo explained that they didn't want their decision to be seen as a negative reflection on "Bridesmaids", which they loved, but rather that they felt they had "purged that out of [them]". Mumolo elaborated that the process of making "Bridesmaids" had taken years, and they felt that the story had been fully told.

Wiig and Mumolo have since co-written and co-starred in the film "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar", which was released in 2021. The pair have also pursued other individual projects, with Wiig starring in over four dozen movies and TV shows, including "The Martian", "Zoolander 2", "Anchorman 2", "MacGruber", and "Wonder Woman 1984".

While some cast members, such as Melissa McCarthy and Rose Byrne, have expressed interest in a "Bridesmaids" sequel, Wiig and Mumolo's decision to focus on new creative endeavours means that a follow-up to their hit comedy is unlikely.

The cast has moved on to other projects

Since the release of Bridesmaids in 2011, the cast has moved on to other projects. Kristen Wiig, who starred in and co-wrote the film, has gone on to star in over four dozen movies and TV shows, including The Martian, Zoolander 2, Anchorman 2, MacGruber, and Wonder Woman 1984. She also co-wrote and starred in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, which was originally conceived as a spin-off of Bridesmaids. Wiig has expressed that she does not plan to return for a sequel to Bridesmaids, stating that she feels the story has already been told.

Annie Mumolo, who co-wrote Bridesmaids with Wiig, also co-wrote and starred in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Like Wiig, Mumolo has stated that she does not feel a sequel to Bridesmaids fits into her creative goals.

Paul Feig, who directed Bridesmaids, has gone on to direct The Heat, Spy, and Ghostbusters, the latter of which starred Bridesmaids cast members Melissa McCarthy and Wiig. Feig has expressed that he does not believe a sequel to Bridesmaids would be a good idea, as the original film concluded with Wiig's character healing from her problems, and he does not want to see her go through another crisis.

Melissa McCarthy, who broke out in Bridesmaids, received an Academy Award nomination for her performance and has since gone on to star in numerous successful comedies, including Spy, Ghostbusters, and Can You Ever Forgive Me?, for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

Other cast members have also moved on to new projects. Rose Byrne, who played Helen in Bridesmaids, has since starred in comedies like Neighbors and the acclaimed series Physical. Maya Rudolph, Ellie Kemper, and Wendi McLendon-Covey have all found success outside of Bridesmaids as well.

The plot of the original film wrapped up conclusively

Feig argues that a sequel would require Annie to go through another crisis, which would be repetitive and inauthentic. He suggests that a sequel would have to be something that audiences could emotionally engage with again, rather than just a funny wedding with hijinks. He also notes that the success of the first film was due to the unique combination of factors, including the stellar cast, and that it would be challenging to replicate this success in a sequel.

Wiig herself has also stated that she does not want to do a sequel, feeling that the story has already been told. In an interview on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2014, she bluntly replied, "No, I think it's OK to have it just be what it was." This sentiment was echoed by Annie Mumolo, who co-wrote the film with Wiig. Mumolo explained that the process of making the first film was lengthy and that they felt like they had "purged that out of [them]."

While some cast members, such as Melissa McCarthy and Rose Byrne, have expressed interest in a sequel, the creative team behind the original film seems hesitant to revisit the story. As Feig noted, the decision to create a sequel ultimately rests with Wiig and Mumolo, who have shown little interest in pursuing a second instalment.

A spiritual sequel could be a better direction

The success of the 2011 comedy "Bridesmaids" has sparked ongoing speculation about a potential sequel. However, despite the film's popularity and financial success, a "Bridesmaids 2" is unlikely to happen, according to the film's director, Paul Feig, and its star and co-writer, Kristen Wiig.

Feig and Wiig have expressed similar sentiments about why a direct sequel may not be the best idea. They both believe that the first film worked so well because it centred on Wiig's character, Annie, who was initially confident but experienced a crisis when her bakery closed, and her best friend's wedding caused a falling out. By the end of the film, Annie had healed and resolved her issues. Feig and Wiig feel that revisiting the same plot formula or having Annie encounter similar problems again would feel inauthentic and fall short of audience expectations.

While a direct sequel may not be in the cards, the idea of a spiritual sequel has been floated as a possible alternative. Rose Byrne, who played Helen in "Bridesmaids," suggested that instead of a traditional sequel, the ensemble cast could reunite for a different movie or a reimagining of something else. This suggestion aligns with the idea of a spiritual sequel, which could be a better direction to explore.

A spiritual sequel could take the form of a spinoff, focusing on one or two of the memorable characters from the original film. For example, a movie centred on Melissa McCarthy's character, Megan, could be an option, given her popularity and the impact she had on the first film. Additionally, Wendi McLendon-Covey, who played Rita, offered a potential storyline for a follow-up involving her character's life after the events of "Bridesmaids."

In fact, a spiritual successor to "Bridesmaids" has already indirectly happened. "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar," written by Wiig and Annie Mumolo, the co-writers of "Bridesmaids," was released in 2021. The film featured Wiig and Mumolo as middle-aged friends going on vacation and included several musical numbers, a talking crab, and a love triangle, along with action and comedy. While not officially tied to "Bridesmaids," the film evolved from early versions of the characters that Wiig and Mumolo had written into a draft of "Bridesmaids."

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