Actor Dermot Mulroney has confirmed that a follow-up to the 2005 film The Family Stone is in development. Speaking on The Tangle podcast, he shared that the project, potentially titled The Families Stone, features a screenplay that explores the characters' lives over the last two decades.

Craig T. Nelson, Rachel McAdams, and Luke Wilson lead the reunion

The upcoming production is expected to bring back several key members of the original ensemble to recapture the film's unique chemistry. Mulroney explicitly named Craig T. Nelson, Rachel McAdams, and Luke Wilson as cast members who have already expressed interest or are attached to the project.

The narrative is set to bridge the gap between the original film and the present day by examining the evolution of the Stone family. mulroney teased that the script delves into the complex history of the characters, noting that "you won't believe how s— went down the last 20 years for the Stones."

Thomas Bezucha’s sudden pivot to the storyline last year

The momentum for this sequel began relatively recently, according to the report . Mulroney noted that writer and director Thomas Bezucha only re-approached the storyline as recently as last year, leading to a screenplay that the actor described as "brilliant."

This rapid development has allowed the production to move quickly from concept to active planning. As reported by the podcast, the idea for a continuation was not a long-standing plan but rather a recent creative impulse from Bezucha, who wrote the new material with significant speed.

The emotional weight of Diane Keaton’s legacy

A significant portion of the sequel's emotional core appears to be linked to the legacy of the original cast members. Mulroney shared that the depth of the new screenplay is particularly poignant "in light of losing Diane this year," a sentiment he connected to the profound impact Diane Keaton had on the ensemble .

While the specific circumstances of this sentiment were not fully detailed, Mulroney reflected on how Keaton's role as a mother figure was life-altering for the cast. He noted that even though the actors did not remain in constant contact, her presence in the original film left a permanent mark on their lives.

Will Sarah Jessica Parker and Claire Danes join the ensemble?

Despite the excitement surrounding the returning cast, the full involvement of the original ensemble remains an open question. While the 2005 film relied heavily on the chemistry of stars like Sarah Jessica Parker and Claire Danes, it has not yet been confirmed if they will participate in The Families Stone.

Furthermore, the report leaves several logistical details unaddressed. There is currently no official word on a production start date, a filming location, or which studio will ultimately distribute the sequel.