TriStar Pictures is officially putting a ring on a sequel to 1997’s My Best Friend’s Wedding. Studio sources confirmed on Tuesday that Oscar‑nominated filmmaker Celine Song— fresh off Past Lives and the sly 2025 comedy Materialists — has signed to write the screenplay.
The project is described as early development, yet Sony executives have been courting talent quietly for months, intent on building a modern romantic comedy that plays to nostalgia without repeating the first film beat for beat. Nearly thirty years have passed since Julia Roberts’ food critic Jules raced to sabotage her best friend’s nuptials, and the studio believes there is fresh dramatic ground in revisiting those characters as adults approaching mid‑life.
Song will focus strictly on writing; a director will be hired once she delivers a draft. Her lyrical handling of desire and regret in Past Lives caught the attention of TriStar executives, who view her voice as a way to update the sequel for contemporary audiences without sanding off the original’s tart edge. Industry analysts point out that Song has often cited Nora Ephron among her influences, an affinity that hints at a screenplay balancing screwball rhythm with unflinching emotion.
Cast negotiations are pending. Dermot Mulroney told reporters last week that “lawyers were talking” to the original ensemble, signalling active discussions even before the writer deal became public. Julia Roberts has previously expressed interest in stepping back into Jules’ designer shoes, though scheduling may be tightened by her upcoming thriller After the Hunt. Cameron Diaz and Rupert Everett have not commented, and no new characters have been announced.
The first film cost $38 million and earned $299.3 million worldwide, placing tenth on the 1997 box‑office chart and cementing its status as a romantic‑comedy touchstone. Its legacy now includes a stage musical that premiered in 2024 and keeps Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s hits in circulation.
Sony’s decision sits within a wave of 1990s revivals, from Happy Gilmore 2 to a forthcoming Freaky Friday update, as studios chase familiar brands that can cut through a saturated marketplace. With Song’s draft expected later this year, insiders say production could begin in 2026, positioning the film to arrive just in time for the original’s thirtieth anniversary celebrations
