Iconic Duo Reunites for Highly Anticipated Follow-Up
The much-anticipated sequel to the beloved 1997 cult classic, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, has officially commenced production. Stars Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino, reprising their titular roles, shared a characteristic, stylish snapshot from the set, signaling the start of this long-awaited project.
The news was confirmed by 20th Century Studios, who announced, “The reunion you’ve been waiting for! The Romy and Michele sequel is now in production.” Sorvino expressed her elation, stating, “It’s finally happening. Bursting with joy to be ‘reunited!’”
Unlike its predecessor, the sequel is slated for an exclusive streaming release as a Hulu Original, bypassing traditional cinema distribution. Should the series debut in 2027, it would coincide with Romy and Michele’s 40th high school reunion.
Creative Team and Returning Cast Assembled
Helming the new film is director Tim Federle, while Robin Schiff, the creator of the characters and writer of the original screenplay, is penning the script for the sequel. Joining Kudrow and Sorvino, a significant portion of the original cast is set to return. This includes Janeane Garofalo as Heather, Alan Cumming as Sandy Frink, Camryn Manheim as Toby, and Julia Campbell as Christie.
New additions to the cast in as-yet-undisclosed roles feature Keegan-Michael Key, Rob Huebel, Breckin Meyer, Patrick Warburton, and Nathan Lee Graham. Key figures from the original film’s production team are also involved, with producers Laurence Mark and Barry Kemp returning, alongside original costume designer Mona May.
Mona May shared her excitement about rejoining the project, telling Deadline, “I’m so excited to be a part of this amazing project to keep the DNA of the characters and design the fashions to be as fun and fabulous as the original film. Romy and Michele are forever fashionistas, and I’m so excited to be working with Lisa and Mira again.”
A Cult Classic’s Enduring Appeal
The original film, directed by David Mirkin, followed two well-meaning but somewhat clueless aspiring fashion designers who concoct an elaborate plan to impress their former classmates at their high school reunion by posing as successful businesswomen who had invented Post-it notes. Despite a modest box office performance, grossing $29.2 million against a $20 million budget, the film cultivated a devoted following over time, becoming a cherished cult classic.
Discussions for a follow-up gained momentum after Kudrow and Sorvino reprised their roles to present an award at the 2022 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. Kudrow previously offered an optimistic update on the project, mentioning on The Drew Barrymore Show that a strong script by Robin Schiff was in place.
Reflecting on the characters’ essence, Kudrow expressed a desire for the sequel to maintain their relatable, albeit endearingly foolish, charm. “I just still want [Romy and Michele] to be as relatable, but also as dumb and lovable as they ever were,” she stated. “Like, I don’t think they’ve learned that much in the time in between, but they still have that unstoppable spirit and that friendship and that idiocy that makes everybody kind of love them. And so, that essential nature of them and the heart that’s at the centre of that, that heart has to stay there.”
