Director Thomas Bezucha Plans Sequel to ‘The Family Stone’

Director Thomas Bezucha is set to revisit the beloved holiday film, The Family Stone, with plans for a sequel. This announcement comes shortly after the passing of Diane Keaton, who portrayed the matriarch Sybil Stone in the original 2005 dramedy. Keaton passed away in October 2023 at the age of 79, prompting Bezucha to reflect on her legacy as he develops the follow-up.

In an interview with CNN, Bezucha shared that he had been contemplating the idea of a sequel even before Keaton’s death. He expressed profound grief over the loss of Sybil, stating, “I’ve been haunted by the loss of Sybil for months now while I worked on it, and so this was a blow on a tender bruise already.” He emphasized that his time spent in the fictional Stone family home has been marked by a sense of longing for Keaton’s character.

Bezucha is determined to ensure that the sequel pays tribute to Keaton’s memorable role. He remarked, “I want to honor [Keaton] even more and do a good job by the rest of the cast.” The original film, which captures the humor and tension of a family gathering during the holidays, features an ensemble cast including Sarah Jessica Parker, Dermot Mulroney, Luke Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Claire Danes, and Craig T. Nelson.

As the project begins to take shape, Bezucha has not yet secured any commitments from the original cast members. He noted that no one has officially signed on for the sequel, and it has not received the green light from Disney, which acquired the original film’s distributor, 20th Century Fox, in 2019. Bezucha conveyed a clear desire to involve the original cast, stating, “I’m not interested in the Brady family reunion without the original Jan.”

The sequel aims to explore new themes while retaining the heart of the original story, emphasizing familial bonds and the complexities of relationships during the festive season. Fans of The Family Stone will be eager to see how Bezucha balances nostalgia with fresh storytelling, particularly in light of recent events.

Bezucha’s commitment to honoring Keaton’s legacy and preserving the spirit of the original film signals a thoughtful approach to this sequel. While details remain scarce, the anticipation for a reunion of the Stone family is already building.