There are so many films out there that fans don’t even realise have sequels.
Take American Psycho 2, Grease 2, Son of the Mask, and more, the film industry is full of sequels that are shuffled towards the back in hopes that we’ll forget they ever exist.
The desire for a sequel to Love Actually, though, is so much more palpable.
The film had many well-known faces (Universal)
Love Actually is a Christmas classic to the extent that for many people, it is the Christmas classic.
This is in large part due to Richard Curtis’ writing and directing, but in even larger part, the desire for a sequel comes from the crazy cast and wanting to see where their characters go next.
The film was full to the brim of actors who were either huge stars, or would go on to mega-stardom.
Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Andrew Lincoln, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Alan Rickman, Joanna Page, Martin Freeman, the list goes on and on, and leaves viewers wanting to know where their characters went next.
Well, they did! Kind of.
Several members of the cast reunited for Red Nose Day Actually in 2017, which saw the now nearly 15 years older actors reunite to give us an idea of where their characters all ended up.
Fans were shocked to find out it exists, with one tweeting: “Did y’all know they did a 15 minute update to where the characters are at now for Red Nose Day. I didn’t.”
The special opens with Andrew Lincoln’s Mark showing up outside the house of Keira Knightley’s Juliet, it is confirmation that yes, she did stay with Ejiofor’s Peter, and he actually did marry Kate Moss in the end.
Many of the rest of the main cast return.
The most notable exception is Emma Thompson, who did not come back as Karen.
The original storyline was heartbreaking as it is (Universal)
She said that, following Alan Rickman’s death in 2016, Curtis had written to her to confirm she wouldn’t be written into the sequel special.
She told the Press Association “Richard wrote to me and said, ‘Darling, we can’t write anything for you because of Alan.’
“I said: ‘No, of course, it would be sad, too sad.’
“It’s too soon. It’s absolutely right because it’s supposed to be for Comic Relief but there isn’t much comic relief in the loss of our dear friend, really, just over a year ago.
“We thought and thought [about it] but it just seemed wrong. It was absolutely the right decision.”
Andrew Lincoln was one of the many stars to return (Universal)
The other main characters all give updates on how they are doing now, however.
Hugh Grant’s politician David has regained his position as PM, and continues to dance around number 10, this time to Drake (that hasn’t exactly aged well, has it).
Bill Nighy’s Billy Mack has released another single for Red Nose Day, and Colin Firth’s Jamie is now married to Aurelia, who is pregnant.
The biggest change is Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who has grown up a huge amount since the film, with his character reconnecting with Liam Neeson’s Daniel, who has flown to New York to visit him after he moved.
