The Family Stone Sequel Moves Forward as Director Honors Diane Keaton’s Legacy

The beloved Stone family is officially planning a return to the big screen. Director Thomas Bezucha confirmed he is actively developing a sequel to the 2005 holiday classic, The Family Stone. This news comes just months after the passing of the film’s matriarch, Diane Keaton, adding a profound layer of emotion to the project’s development.

Bezucha began crafting the new story before Keaton’s death in October. He told CNN the loss has been deeply felt throughout the creative process. The sequel aims to honor her memory and the original cast’s chemistry.

Original Cast Return is a Non-Negotiable Condition

For the sequel to happen, Bezucha insists the entire original ensemble must return. This includes Sarah Jessica Parker, Dermot Mulroney, Claire Danes, and Rachel McAdams. Luke Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser, and Craig T. Nelson are also essential.

He is not interested in a reunion without the core actors. The director compared it to a Brady Bunch reunion without the original Jan. Bringing the Stones back is a responsibility he takes seriously, especially now.

A Project Shaped by Loss and Legacy

The director shared that he had already been “haunted by the loss of Sybil,” Keaton’s character who died in the first film. Her real-life passing compounded that feeling. He is now focused on honoring Keaton and doing right by the rest of the talented cast.

The project has not yet received a formal green light from a studio. No cast members have officially signed contracts at this early stage. The development continues as Bezucha and the potential cast process their shared grief.

The long-awaited The Family Stone sequel is now in active development, poised to revisit a beloved family two decades later with a story shaped by both memory and loss.

Thought you’d like to know

When is The Family Stone 2 coming out?

No release date has been set. The project is still in the early scripting and development phase. The film has not yet been officially greenlit by a studio.

Will Diane Keaton be in the sequel?

Diane Keaton’s character, Sybil Stone, passed away at the end of the original film. Her real-life death in October 2024 will also be a significant part of the sequel’s narrative as the family copes with the loss.

Who from the original cast is confirmed?

No cast members are officially confirmed yet. Director Thomas Bezucha has stated he will only make the sequel if the entire original main cast agrees to return for the project.

What is the plot of the sequel?

Specific plot details remain under wraps. The story will likely follow the Stone family as they navigate life nearly twenty years later, dealing with new challenges and the lasting absence of their matriarch.

Who is directing the sequel?

Thomas Bezucha, who wrote and directed the original 2005 film, is back to write and direct the sequel. He is determined to protect the legacy of the first movie.