The Family Stone writer-director says a sequel is in the works amid Diane Keaton’s death.Thomas Bezucha called the actress’ death “a blow on a tender bruise.” Keaton’s character also faced death at the end of the 2005 Christmas classic.
There’s still more holiday fare to unwrap under the tree, as The Family Stone writer-director Thomas Bezucha has revealed he’s working on a sequel to the 2005 Christmas classic amid the painful news of star Diane Keaton‘s death.
Bezucha said in a new interview with about Keaton’s life that he began devising the project when he learned of the Oscar-winning actress’ death on Oct. 11 at 79.
“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,” Bezucha told CNN, referencing Keaton’s character, Sybil Stone, who also faced death due to a terminal illness near the end of the ensemble movie. “Mentally, I’ve been spending time in that house where I’ve been missing her for a while already.”
Rachel McAdams, Diane Keaton, and Sarah Jessica Parker in ‘The Family Stone’.
ZADE ROSENTHAL/FOX
Bezucha said that he now feels compelled to “do a good job by the rest of the cast,” and has a desire to “honor her even more” in the wake of Keaton’s death.
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to representatives for Disney, the parent company of distributor 20th Century Studios, for comment.
The Family Stone followed Sybil as her family gathered for what might be their final Christmas together, with the matriarch revealing to her loved ones that her breast cancer has returned.
Besides Keaton, the film’s star-studded cast included Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams, Craig T. Nelson, Dermot Mulroney, and Luke Wilson, among others.
Though the film was a commercial success, earning just under $93 million at the domestic box office on a reported budget of under $20 million, it received middling critical reviews at the time.
Still, the Golden Globes appreciated the project, with Parker earning a nomination for her performance.
Diane Keaton, Ty Giordano, Claire Danes, Craig T. Nelson and Dermot Mulroney in ‘The Family Stone’.
ZADE ROSENTHAL/FOX
The film has endured as a holiday classic and is regularly shown on television throughout the Christmas season.
EW staff even debated the film’s legacy in subsequent years.
Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.
“I find this to be a very fun holiday film,” writer Samantha Highfill wrote in a 2014 analysis honoring the depth of the movie’s themes. “Yes, there’s all the grief—but that’s just one part of this family’s holiday.”