Nearly 30 years after it first delighted audiences with its flamboyant flair and heartwarming story, the cult classic The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is finally getting a sequel. Director Stephan Elliott has confirmed that he has written the script and secured the involvement of original stars Terence Stamp, Guy Pearce, and Hugo Weaving to reprise their iconic roles.
The 1994 film followed a trio of drag queens – Bernadette (Stamp), Felicia (Pearce), and Mitzi (Weaving) – as they embarked on a road trip across the Australian Outback in their lavender bus, affectionately named Priscilla. A landmark film for LGBTQ+ representation, Priscilla was a critical and commercial success, winning an Academy Award for Best Costume Design and earning Golden Globe nominations.
Now, after years of fan demand for a follow-up, Elliott has revealed that he has crafted a story worthy of continuing the beloved characters’ adventures. “People have been screaming for me to do this for 30 years,” the director stated. “And suddenly I had the realization that we’re all getting old. We’re losing people.”
While plot details remain under wraps, Elliott teased that the sequel would partly be set in Australia but would also venture overseas. Additionally, he confirmed that Tick’s young son from the original film would now be grown up with a family of his own, introducing new characters to the vibrant world of Priscilla.
Despite the advancing ages of the original cast, with Stamp now 85 years old, Elliott expressed confidence in their ability to bring the same energy and heart to the sequel. “Terence is the fittest man I’ve ever met in my life,” he said. “He has never drunk and basically eats grass. It took him a long time to think about it until he got there, but eventually he said to me, ‘You know what? You’re right. We’re not finished yet. The story is untold.'”
The announcement of the Priscilla sequel comes on the heels of the news that the original bus used in the film has been found and is being restored, with Elliott confirming that the iconic vehicle will make an appearance in the new movie.
With the original creative team and cast reassembled, fans of the beloved drag queen road trip can look forward to another fabulous and heartfelt adventure when the Priscilla sequel hits the big screen in the coming years.
