Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow’s Romy and Michele High School Reunion sequel is officially moving forward at 20th Century Studios, with director Tim Federle attached and the follow-up set for an exclusive Hulu debut rather than a theatrical run. Robin Schiff ret
The reunion is getting a second round—only this time, it won’t happen in a movie theater.
Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow’s Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion sequel is officially moving forward at 20th Century Studios. but the follow-up is headed to Hulu instead. TheWrap confirmed the sequel is in the works from director Tim Federle. and the plan is for an exclusive debut on Hulu (or Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers).
The script will bring back original writer Robin Schiff. Janeane Garofalo, Alan Cumming, Camryn Manheim and Julia Campbell are also returning from the 1997 R-rated comedy. The new cast lineup will include Keegan-Michael Key, Rob Huebel, Breckin Meyer, Patrick Warburton and Nathan Lee Graham.
Behind the scenes, Federle and Laurence Mark are producing the sequel, with Mark returning from the original. Executive producers include Barry Kemp, Sorvino, Kudrow and Schiff, and Kimberly McCullough is co-producer. The below-the-line crew features director of photography Marco Fargnoli. production designer Hillary Gurtler. editor Brian Olds and costume designer Mona May—another veteran from the original film. Senior VP Sarah Shepard is overseeing the project for 20th Century Studios.
The path to a big-screen reunion for Romy and Michele has always been a little unconventional. and the story behind the characters’ comeback has that same winding energy. The characters first appeared in 1988 stage play Ladies Room. written by Schiff for the comedy troupe The Groundlings. with Kudrow as Michele. The material was then adapted into a sitcom. bringing Kudrow and Christie Mellor—who played Romy on stage—back to their roles. The pilot wasn’t picked up. but Touchstone executives. looking for a female “Wayne’s World” (as Schiff put it in a Vanity Fair interview). convinced her to develop it into a feature.
Schiff says she sparked the idea for a return to high school for a 10th anniversary. The original film arrived from Disney’s Touchstone Pictures imprint of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution and didn’t land as a blockbuster in its initial theatrical release. It earned $29.2 million on a production budget of $20 million, yet it went on to grow into a cult favorite.
Romy and Michele never fully disappeared. In 2005. Schiff wrote and directed a prequel film titled Romy and Michele: In the Beginning for ABC Family. starring Katherine Heigl as Romy and Alexandra Breckenridge as Michele. Then, in 2017, a musical adaptation premiered in Seattle, with an off-Broadway production arriving last fall.
Now, with a sequel once again centered on returning characters and new faces—plus a streaming-first destination—Romy and Michele are stepping back into their own spotlight, this time with Hulu as the stage.
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion sequel Hulu 20th Century Studios Tim Federle Robin Schiff Mira Sorvino Lisa Kudrow Janeane Garofalo Alan Cumming Keegan-Michael Key
So it’s not going to theaters? Lame.
I swear Hulu keeps stealing all the movies now. Like first it’s direct to streaming and now it’s “exclusive,” whatever that means.
Wait did they say it’s an R-rated sequel? I don’t remember if Hulu can even do that without it getting edited. Also Tim Federle?? Thought he was more like… musicals? I’m confused but I’ll watch I guess.
This is kinda weird because Romy and Michele feels like a big-screen cult thing, not like binge-watch on Disney+. If it’s on Hulu on Disney+ then people can just pirate it anyway lol. Anyway I hope they bring back the same vibe and not just the cast name dropping. Also Robin Schiff wrote it so that’s good right? I mean I think so.