Never say never, indeed. More than 15 years after the release of Slumdog Millionaire, a sequel to the Oscar-winning movie may be on the horizon. Bridge7, the newly formed production banner from producer Swati Shetty and former CAA (short for Creative Artists Agency) agent Grant Kessman has secured the film sequel and television rights to the 2008 box-office hit, though nothing has been cast in stone just yet.
“Some stories stay with us long after the credits roll and Slumdog Millionaire is undoubtedly one of them,” said the pair in a statement announcing the deal. “Its narrative is universal, cutting across cultural and geographical lines and it embodies the kind of stories we love — ones that bridge entertainment with profound human experiences. What makes Slumdog Millionaire extraordinary is not only its cinematic brilliance — spanning storytelling, music and its remarkable accolades, but also how it brought together talent from across the world to make a global winning team.”
Based on the book Q&A by Vikas Swarup, the Danny Boyle-directed pic follows 18-year-old Jamal, played by Dev Patel in his feature debut, who tackles India’s version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” with knowledge gained from a life of hardship in the slums. It won eight Oscars, including Best Director for Boyle and Best Picture, seven BAFTA Awards, and four Golden Globe accolades, with composer Composer A.R. Rahman clinching two Oscars for the movie’s score and main soundtrack, “Jai Ho”.
The potential sequel will reportedly tell “the next chapter of Jamal’s story”, but it’s unclear whether Patel, female lead Freida Pinto, and other original cast members are reprising their roles. A separate musical based on the Slumdog Millionaire film is also understood to be in the works, helmed by Tony-winning producer Ken Davenport.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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