Mira Sorvino wants Disney to develop a Romy and Michele's High School Reunion sequel. Based on characters from the stage play Ladies Room, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion features 28-year olds Romy White (Mira Sorvino) and Michele Weinberger (Lisa Kudrow) attending their 10-year high school reunion. Romy and Michele haven't achieved much success in life, and to save themselves from embarrassment and to impress their former peers, they assume fake careers. The lie, however, lands the duo in all sorts of trouble as they make whimsical attempts to keep their facade from being busted.
Despite a fairly generic premise, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion appealed to viewers and critics due to its cheery spirit, vibrant tone, and the buoyant, charming chemistry of its lead stars. The film, which had opened up to a noteworthy box-office revenue in 1997, has since become a 90s classic. Over the years, both fans and the movie's stars have rallied for a sequel. In 1999, a Romy and Michele sitcom pilot was produced for NBC. However, the network did not pick it up for its fall schedule. Then in 2005, ABC Family broadcast the prequel television film Romy and Michele: In the Beginning, but the feature did not include stars from the original movie. These loose reimaginations haven't fulfilled fans' desires for more Romy & Michele, and the campaign for a sequel continues.
When collecting an award at The Creative Coalition's sixth annual Television Humanitarian Awards, which took place on Sept. 17, lead star Mira Sorvino voiced her interest in a Romy and Michele's High School Reunion sequel, while also affirming her co-stars' interest in doing the film. Sorvino revealed that she is down to reprise her iconic comedic role and she would be elated if the House of the Mouse greenlit a sequel. “It’s not in my hands. It’s up to Disney,” the actress said. “I would be so grateful if they would decide to do it.” Sorvino additionally confirmed that most of the original movie's cast and crew were keen on doing another film.
“I know that Lisa and that [screenwriter] Robin Schiff is interested in it. Maybe Alan [Cumming] is interested in it. I heard that maybe Janeane [Garofalo] is interested in it.”
While discussing her plans for a potential Romy and Michele's High School Reunion sequel, Sorvino added that she has been looking for an opportunity to share screen space with her former co-star Lisa Kudrow (Friends) again. “I love Lisa and I would do anything just to work with her again in any capacity.” This isn't the first time when Sorvino has articulated her fervor for developing a remake of the 1997 movie. Earlier in 2014, Sorvino had also called on Disney to give in to fans' demands for a sequel, but the studio paid no heed to her wishes.
As Sorvino had mentioned, it appears that Disney doesn't realize how popular its iconic comedy has become in the 17 years since its premiere. This explains why the studio has been sitting on a followup film, despite the cast's enthusiasm to make another movie. It is understandable if Disney finds a theatrical sequel to be risky, given the unprecedented competition at the box-office. But since the company has now launched Disney+, a sequel to Romy and Michele's Highschool Reunion could be a perfect fit for the streaming network. The original cast, after all, is available for another movie, and there is a de facto viewer base awaiting a sequel.
Source: The Creative Coalition