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The Holiday 2 Rumors Addressed By Kate Winslet & Original Director
Kate Winslet and Nancy Meyers have responded to recent rumors that a sequel to the modern Christmas classic The Holiday is in development. The original, directed by Meyers, was released in 2006 and starred Winslet and Cameron Diaz as two women who, unhappy with their love lives, decide to house-swap for the Christmas season. Jude Law and Jack Black also starred in the movie as the love interest of each protagonist. Despite a mixed-to-positive critical reception, The Holiday was instantly embraced by audiences and grossed over $200 million against its $85 million budget.
Winslet, who portrayed co-protagonist Iris Simpkins in The Holiday, has corrected the record on whether The Holiday 2 is currently being developed. Despite reports from various outlets, both Winslet and original director Meyers have made it clear that these rumors are not rooted in fact. Meyers herself posted a statement on Instagram, in light of having received a number of inquiries about the supposed sequel. Her comments were corroborated separately by Winslet whilst promoting Avatar: The Way of Water with People.
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"I read something about that, but it's the first I've heard of it. I promise you not an agent or a representative or anyone from the first one around has had any conversation with me about that. Hand on heart, that's never come up."
Does The Holiday Actually Need A Sequel?
Although no response has yet been issued from fellow Holiday costars Diaz, Law, and Black, this double dispute from the original director and one of its acting leads certainly dispels any serious expectation of a follow-up movie happening anytime soon. Diaz has only recently begun to emerge from a long hiatus from acting, having taken a break from the profession since 2014. Her first confirmed project will be the action-comedy movie Back In Action for Netflix, starring alongside Jamie Foxx. Law and Black's careers continue to thrive elsewhere, with Law soon to star in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew on Disney+ and Black voicing Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Meyers also has her plate full for the near future, having signed on to write, produce and direct a new feature film for Netflix.
Outside the question of if a sequel to The Holiday is logistically achievable in the near future, the original was such an effective and self-contained story that it's difficult to justify a continuation. With both its UK and LA-based plot lines wrapped up with their own cathartic happily-ever-afters, procuring a new story for its cast of characters isn't just a question of taking them in new directions that can provide for yet more heartwarming comedy. More importantly, the sequel would need to deliver the same goods without retroactively compromising the simplicity of its predecessor. The Holiday, much like its peer Love Actually, enjoys particular appreciation for its old-fashioned, straightforward storytelling about (mostly) regular people navigating relatable life problems.
Additionally, any sequel would be lacking the talents of the late Eli Wallach, who passed away in 2014. Wallach's portrayal of Arthur Abbot, an aged and forgotten screenwriter from the Golden Age of Hollywood, was one of the most heartwarming elements of The Holiday. His inclusion in Iris' storyline helped to elevate the movie from being exclusively concerned with 'true love' to a more accommodating exploration of both familial and platonic love. With such a strong emotional center of the original having since been laid to rest, it feels appropriate to leave The Holiday alone as the yuletide treat that it is.
