13/01/2014 - Sequel to 2012 hit adds Richard Gere, David Strathairn and Tamsin Greig to original cast

British director John Madden is back in India filming the sequel to 2012 smash hit The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel [+see also:
trailer
film profile] that grossed more than $135 million worldwide. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2 [+see also:
trailer
making of
film profile] sees the stellar cast, including Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Penelope Wilton, Diana Hardcastle, Tena Desae and Lillete Dubey, return, alongside new cast additions Richard Gere, David Strathairn and Tamsin Greig. Madden is directing from an original screenplay by Ol Parker, from a story by Parker and Madden.

Graham Broadbent and Peter Czernin of the UK’s Blueprint Pictures are producing. Fox Searchlight Pictures (US) has worldwide rights and will co-finance the film in association with Participant Media (US) and Image Nation Abu Dhabi (UAE).

Participant Media Executive Vice President of Production Jonathan King said, “We believe audiences will be as happy as we are to spend more time at The Marigold, as this remarkable cast continues to demonstrate that life can be an adventure at any age.”

Broadbent said, “What are the odds of being able to re-assemble this extraordinary group of actors and filmmakers, let alone to add to their number? We found a worldwide audience we never dreamed of for the first, and we feel very lucky to have the chance now to bring them this companion film."

“This film presented us with an irresistible opportunity: to continue a story we realized we had only just begun. Not to tell the same story again, but to pursue where the lives of these very different characters lead, with an audience which already holds them in great affection,” said Madden.