Nia Vardarlos’s name may not be one you’re familiar with, but here’s betting you’ve heard of at least one of her movies – she’s the mind behind the unlikely success story My Big Fat Greek Wedding. What began as a one-woman show eventually became a Tom Hanks-produced indie picture that slipped into theaters before becoming a runaway hit months after its initial theatrical release. All told, the film was in U.S. theaters for nearly a year while raking in almost a quarter of a billion dollars domestically…all on an estimate $5 million production budget. That was more than ten years ago now, but it looks like Vardalos (who wrote and starred in the film) is finally ready to revisit her smash hit with a sequel.
As she announced in a statement today, Vardalos is putting the final touches on a sequel script to be produced by companies Playtone, HBO Films, and Gold Circle, the same triumvirate of production companies behind the original. Other returners include co-star John Corbett (“Of course a few jaded folks in the press corps will claim I ran out of money or just want to kiss John Corbett again.” Vardalos quipped, “One of these things is true.”) and producers Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. As for content? “Now that I’m experiencing motherhood, I’m ready to write the next chapter of my family story,” Vardalos said. The plot will reportedly include another family reunion at a wedding following the outing of some sort of family secret. “Family secret” is a little vexing, but the rest of that sounds a bit like a shotgun wedding scenario to us.
Vardalos’s work (and success) since Wedding has been fairly limited – her follow up, Connie and Carla received middling review, which unfortunately is more than can be said for her directorial debut I Hate Valentine’s Day (which reteamed her with Corbett). She also co-wrote Larry Crowne with Tom Hanks and has made on-screen appearances in several small independent pictures over the last couple years.
A production timeline and release date have yet to be announced, but we’ll be sure to bring you more details as they become available.
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