Director Kirk Jones to Helm ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2’

Fourteen years after indie sensation My Big Fat Greek Wedding, director Kirk Jones (What to Expect When You’re Expecting) has signed on to direct My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. Nia Vardalos will once again write and star in the film, which was just acquired by Universal for distribution.

Although Kirk Jones didn’t helm the first Wedding – Joel Zwick had the reins the first time around – he did direct 2005’s Nanny McPhee under somewhat similar circumstances. That film, produced by Universal, was also written by its female lead, Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks), and went on to become a box office success despite a modest budget.

In fact, Universal may have chosen Jones to direct based on the simple fact that the filmmaker has only ever done films with relatively smaller budgets, from 1998’s Waking Ned Devine to his most recent effort, 2012’s What to Expect When You’re Expecting.

For Vardalos, the goal will be trying to recapture the same success she achieved in writing and starring in the first Greek Wedding. The actress has since both written and starred in Connie and Carla (2004) and I Hate Valentine’s Day (2009), with both films being critical and commercial failures. She also penned the much-maligned Tom Hanks directorial vehicle, Larry Crowne.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 will revolve around a family-kept secret and another Portokalos wedding that reunites the eccentric Greek family. Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman – the same producing team from the first installment – will be producing the sequel, with Vardalos this time serving as an executive producer.