By Lacy Baugher for Movies on October 29th, 2013

A Sequel to 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' is Actually Happening; Filming to Begin in 2014

Dame Judi Dench and Celia Imrie in "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel". (Photo: Fox Searchlight)
Dame Judi Dench and Celia Imrie in "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel". (Photo: Fox Searchlight)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a heartwarming British film about a group of retirees who are duped into spending their golden years in an over-hyped Indian  retirement hotel, features an all-star cast that basically reads like an wishlist of British acting royalty, including Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie and more. It also grossed more than $130 million dollars at the box office worldwide.

Thus, you can probably guess why rumors of a Marigold Hotel sequel have been swirling around the internet for well over  a year. Yet, despite the strong likelihood of a sequel happening – and the obvious excitement with which such a film would doubtless be greeted – no concrete details managed to emerge.

Until now. 

According to the Radio Times, Downton Abbey star Penelope Wilton has confirmed that production on the long-rumored sequel is finally about to get under way.

"We had a wonderful time shooting this film the first time,” Wilson told the RT, “I am thrilled we will be going back in January to do another one. As far as I know everybody will be returning."

Details of the new film are being kept secret for the moment, but Ol Parker, who wrote the first film is returning to pen the sequel and the original production team is also on board.

The first film was based on Deborah Moggach’s 2004 novel These Foolish Things, and though the author has written several other books (including – personal note – one about the 17th-century tulip craze in Amsterdam that’s quite good), none of them are a Marigold Hotel sequel, so we can’t look there for inspiration about what the second installment might entail. But that’s okay. Just knowing that this film is actually, officially going to happen is good news enough for right now.

Did you see the first film? What did you think of it? Would you watch a sequel?

By Lacy Baugher for Movies on October 29th, 2013
Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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  • The Trailer for ‘The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ is Here

    The sequel to heartwarming British film – and surprise box office hit – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has been highly anticipated since production was confirmed last Fall, and now fans everywhere can rejoice, because a trailer is finally here!

    Creatively titled The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, the film will continue to follow the story of a group of British retirees making a home for themselves in a second-rate Indian retirement hotel. The main cast from the original – comprised of such British acting royalty as Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie and more – are all back for the sequel, which will take place eight months later, as ambitious hotel owner-manager Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) attempts to open a second business.

    The gang of Marigold Hotel regulars will be joined by several new faces, including characters played by Richard Gere, David Straithairn and Tamsin Greig.

    By Lacy Baugher for Movies on 8/13/2014