Universal to host ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2’

Universal Pictures is headed to the altar with “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2,” having acquired U.S. and select international distribution rights for the sequel to writer-star Nia Vardalos’ breakout 2002 indie comedy.

Vardalos is reprising her duties for the follow-up, and Kirk Jones (“Nanny McPhee,” “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”) has signed on to direct.

Based on Vardalos’ semiautobiographical one-woman play, the original “Greek Wedding” told the story of a woman trying to get her boisterous Aegean family to accept her non-Greek fiancé, played by John Corbett. Shot on a shoestring $5-million budget, the film became a critical and box-office hit, grossing $368.7 million worldwide and earning Vardalos an Oscar nomination for original screenplay.

“Greek Wedding 2” will revolve around the revelation of a family secret and an even bigger, fatter wedding that brings the Portokalos clan together again.

Vardalos revealed that she was working on the script via Twitter in May, writing, “now that I’m experiencing motherhood I feel ready to write this next chapter.” She also teased that her “entire big fat family is invited back.” (The first film also starred Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Andrea Martin and Louis Mandylor.)

Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman will return to produce “Greek Wedding 2”; executive producers are Paul Brooks, Scott Niemeyer and Steven Shareshian.

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