Turn to the next page, because it's time to head back to the book club. A trailer just dropped for Book Club 2: The Next Chapter, a sequel to the successful 2018 film Book Club is set to be released next year.
The original Book Club centered on four older women (played by Hollywood legends Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen, and Candice Bergen) who have all attended a weekly book club together for 40 years. During one of their meetings, they read the erotic Fifty Shades of Grey and begin to see a change in how they view their personal relationships. Positive reviews and success at the box office led to a sequel being commissioned in 2019. Bill Holderman will return as director and co-writer (with Erin Simms) from the original film. Focus Features will take over distribution rights from Paramount Pictures.
So, what else do we know about the sequel to Book Club? How will it continue the adventures of our four favorite book club ladies? Who will be returning from the original film, and what new faces will join them? When and where can audiences see the movie when it is released? What should we know about Book Club 2: The Next Chapter?
Book Club 2: The Next Chapter: The Plot
Before we look at what to expect from the sequel, let's recap what happened in the original film. Four lifelong friends, Diane, Vivian, Sharon, and Carol, have held their titular book club for four decades. The club reads Fifty Shades of Grey together, and they see it as a wake-up call about all the pleasures they missed in their lives. They pursue renewed relationships with their significant others, or in the case of the single members, find new partners. They all eventually realize that they deserve to be happy and in love and continue to pursue their newfound passions.
The sequel will show the book club as they take their adventures abroad to Italy. An official summary for Book Club 2: The Next Chapter has been given by Focus Features.
The highly anticipated sequel follows our four best friends as they take their book club to Italy for the fun girls' trip they never had. When things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure.
The trailer also gives an idea of what we might expect. When Vivian (Jane Fonda) gets engaged, the rest of the group gets the idea to throw her a wild bachelorette party in Italy. We see them tour around Rome, taking in the historical sights and meeting attractive men along the way. The foursome ends up in jail before the trailer's end, so we know there will be no shortage of wild adventures in store.
This is all the information we have at this point, and additional plot details will likely follow as we approach closer to the release date.
Book Club 2: The Next Chapter: The Cast
Several cast members from the original are set to return in the sequel. The four leading ladies and industry icons, Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen will all return as Diane, Vivian, Sharon, and Carol, respectively.
In addition to the four leads, Andy Garcia will return as Mitchell, who was introduced in the first film as a love interest for the newly widowed Diane. Don Johnson is also back as Arthur, an ex-boyfriend from Vivian's younger years with whom she rekindles a relationship. Craig T. Nelson is returning as Bruce Colby, the husband of Carol. Bruce and Carol's intimacy suffered in the original film, but they were able to rekindle it after working through their issues.
The original cast was not lacking in star power, with additional powerhouse names including Richard Dreyfuss, Alicia Silverstone, Wallace Shawn, and Ed Begley Jr., among others. Fifty Shades of Grey author E.L. James also made a cameo appearance. While it is possible some of these stars could return for the sequel, nothing has yet been confirmed.
In addition to the returning cast, the film will feature new cast members, such as Italian actor Giancarlo Giannini, British Holby City star Hugh Quarshie, and actor Vincent Riotta. We have no details on their characters or storylines within the film yet. Other potential names have floated around, but these are all the confirmed cast members at this point. We can expect additional casting announcements, as well as confirmation of existing roles, as production continues.
Release Date
Book Club 2: The Next Chapter will be released in the United States by Focus Features on May 12, 2023. The trailer emphasizes the Mother's Day weekend release, so the studio clearly has its intended audience in mind. Outside the United States, distribution will be handled by Universal Pictures.