Judging in terms of pure profitability, “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” has to be considered one of the biggest hits of the year. Off a meager $10 million budget it has gone on to gross over $46 million domestically and $134 million worldwide – and that’s before considering that it could go on to pocket a whole lot more from its home video release should it nab some of the Oscar nominations that it’s currently being talked up for. But not content with gobbling up all of 2012’s grey pound, screenwriter Ol Parker is currently penning a follow up for Fox Searchlight.
Now, a mild spoiler alert here, but should the sequel come to pass then not all the cast would be in line to return because not all of them made it to the end. It’s a film about old people, go figure. However, you’d have to imagine all of those who made it to the end would be happy to return, and the latest rumor is that at present the most likely additions to the cast would be Helen Mirren and Colin Firth. Now, bear in mind that those are just rumors and probably dream casting for a movie like this.
The same source also suggests that in the sequel an American actress may be in line to movie into the titular hotel (someone obviously liked Shirley Maclaine’s addition to the third season of "Downton Abbey") but no names have been mentioned as of yet. Sure, this could all yet be conjecture but it would all make sense should they be true. If we could pick then we’d love to see Michael Caine thrown into the mix, but that would probably require John Madden be replaced by Christopher Nolan as well. Hmm, well he is free at the moment… [Showbiz 411]