Nearly 30 years later, Romy and Michele are still best friends, still serving looks, and apparently still trying to figure out this whole love thing.
Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino brought a major dose of ’90s nostalgia to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, taking the stage during the Disney Entertainment Showcase to give fans a new look at the long-awaited sequel to the 1997 cult classic Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion.
The sequel, currently titled Romy and Michele 2, is already in production from 20th Century Studios, with Kudrow returning as Michele Weinberger and Sorvino once again playing Romy White.
But D23 finally answered a much more important question: What have Romy and Michele actually been doing for the last 30 years? Apparently, the boutique business is going pretty well.
Their love lives? That’s another story.
Kudrow and Sorvino appeared together during the Disney Entertainment Showcase to tease the upcoming sequel — and yes, they came dressed for the occasion.
The actresses leaned right back into the colorful, over-the-top fashion that helped make Romy and Michele pop-culture icons, joking during the presentation that they’re now officially Disney princesses.
Honestly, we’ll allow it.
But beyond the nostalgia, the appearance gave us some of the first substantial story details about where Romy and Michele are nearly three decades after we last saw them.
Romy and Michele STILL Own Their Beverly Hills Boutique
Remember the end of the original movie?
After surviving their disastrous high school reunion (and eventually realizing they didn’t actually need to impress any of their former classmates) Romy and Michele opened their own fashion boutique in Los Angeles with the help of Sandy Frink.
Well, apparently, business is still booming.
Sorvino confirmed at D23 that Romy and Michele still own their Beverly Hills boutique in the sequel.
So at least one part of their happily-ever-after actually stuck.
And considering how important fashion was to the original movie, keeping Romy and Michele in the boutique business feels pretty appropriate.
But while they’ve apparently spent the last 30 years building their careers and friendship, there’s one part of life they may have overlooked.
Romy and Michele Are Looking for LOVE
Yep, romance is apparently becoming a major part of the sequel.
Kudrow and Sorvino revealed that Romy and Michele attend the wedding of one of their former classmates, where they come to a rather alarming realization:
They may have forgotten to fall in love. And that realization apparently sends the pair into their next adventure.
The new movie will explore Romy and Michele’s search for true love while continuing the friendship that’s been at the heart of their story since the beginning. And we already know who at least two of their potential love interests will be.
Romy and Michele Have NEW Love Interests
D23 also gave us a little more information about Romy and Michele’s romantic lives.
Keegan-Michael Key is playing a new love interest for Michele, while Rob Huebel plays a love interest for Romy.
That raises a particularly interesting question for fans of the original movie because Michele’s relationship with Sandy Frink was one of the film’s biggest romantic storylines.
Alan Cumming is returning as Sandy, but Michele has apparently moved beyond the relationship we last saw in 1997.
Exactly what happened between them (and what Sandy’s role in the new story will be) is something the movie will have to explain.
A LOT of the Original Cast Is Coming Back
Thankfully, Romy and Michele won’t be the only familiar faces.
Several members of the original Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion cast are officially returning, including:
- Alan Cumming as Sandy Frink
- Janeane Garofalo as Heather Mooney
- Camryn Manheim as Toby Walters
- Julia Campbell as Christie Masters
Considering the new movie involves the wedding of one of Romy and Michele’s former classmates, that returning lineup could make for one VERY interesting reunion.
The sequel is also adding plenty of new faces.
Along with Keegan-Michael Key and Rob Huebel, the cast includes Wendi McLendon-Covey, Patrick Warburton, Breckin Meyer, Nathan Lee Graham, Anna Baryshnikov, and Sofia Wylie.
Disney and 20th Century Studios haven’t revealed every character they’re playing just yet.
And YES, We’re Getting Another Dance
There are certain things you simply cannot make a Romy and Michele sequel without.
Ridiculous fashion? Check. Romy and Michele together? Obviously. A dance sequence? Also check.
Kudrow and Sorvino teased at D23 that the sequel will feature another joyful dance sequence, immediately bringing to mind Romy, Michele, and Sandy’s unforgettable interpretive dance to “Time After Time” at their high school reunion.
Whether the new sequence can possibly match that level of wonderfully bizarre perfection remains to be seen.
But we’re certainly willing to find out.
The Original Writer Is Returning
There’s also some reassuring news behind the camera.
Robin Schiff, who wrote the original Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, is returning to write the sequel.
This time, Tim Federle is directing. Federle’s Disney credits include creating High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and directing Better Nate Than Ever. The original 1997 film was directed by David Mirkin.
And there’s another important returning member of the creative team: costume designer Mona May, whose wildly colorful designs were an enormous part of the original movie’s identity, is back for the sequel.
If we’re going back into Romy and Michele’s closet nearly 30 years later, that’s exactly the kind of continuity we like to hear.
Where Will ‘Romy and Michele 2’ Be Released?
Here’s another important detail.
Unlike the original movie, Romy and Michele 2 isn’t currently planned as a theatrical release.
The 20th Century Studios sequel is expected to debut as a Hulu Original in the United States, with an international release through Disney+.
Production officially began earlier this summer, when 20th Century Studios shared an image of Kudrow and Sorvino sitting together in director’s chairs bearing the Romy and Michele 2 name.
When Does ‘Romy and Michele 2’ Come Out?
Here’s the one thing D23 didn’t give us. An official premiere date has not been announced yet.
The good news is that filming is already underway, Romy and Michele are officially back together, and now we have a much better idea of where we’ll find them nearly 30 years after their unforgettable high school reunion.
They’re still best friends.
They still have their boutique. They’re still extremely fashionable. And now they’re looking for true love. What could possibly go wrong?
Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for the latest D23 announcements, Romy and Michele 2 updates, Hulu releases, Disney entertainment news, casting announcements, and everything new from 20th Century Studios.
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