The sequel to a 21-year-old Christmas classic just got a major update from an original star.
The upcoming follow-up to The Family Stone has earned an important cast and title update from returning star Dermont Mulroney ahead of its planned production. The Family Stone is a classic Christmas comedy that follows the wacky adventures of the Stone family during the holidays. It follows Mulroney's Everett Stone as he brings his girlfriend, Julie Morton (Claire Danes), to meet his family, intent on proposing to her in the process. However, their personalities cause things to go awry as hilarious shenanigans ensue during the holiday season.
Now, speaking on The Tangle podcast (via People), Mulroney has offered an update on The Family Stone sequel, both in its title and its casting choices. The actor revealed the upcoming sequel will be titled The Families Stone, and will apparently see everyone from the original cast returning. Mulroney specifically confirms Rachel McAdams, Craig T. Nelson, and Luke Wilson are going to be coming back for the new movie. He teases some exciting developments for the Stone family while also acknowledging the absence of the late Diane Keaton.
Check out what Mulroney had to say below:
I think it's going to be entitled The Families Stone... Everyone's up for returning. I can be on record.
[Diane Keaton] was so impactful on all of our lives in that mother part in that life-altering movie...
You won't believe how s--- went down the last 20 years for the Stones.
The Family Stone sequel was confirmed by original writer and director Thomas Bezucha in November 2025, where he revealed a follow-up was in the works following Keaton's death. While not much about the storyline has been revealed, Mulroney's interview sheds light on what to expect from the film. This includes the return of all its core stars, which is also expected to include Danes, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ty Giordano, Brian White, Elizabeth Reaser, Paul Schneider, Savannah Stehlin, and Jamie Kaler. Although their returns remain unconfirmed by name, Mulroney makes it sound like everyone might be coming back.
Even without Keaton, it sounds like the sequel will honor her legacy as an actor by bringing all her co-stars together for another hilarious Christmas adventure. The 2005 comedy originally earned mixed reviews from critics, with the movie currently sporting a 52% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 160 reviews. However, audiences found more enjoyment in the film, scoring it a 63% based on over 250,000 ratings. The movie also earned Parker a Golden Globe nod, alongside Satellite Award nominations for Keaton, Nelson, and McAdams.
It also seems the initial family dynamic is going to be going through some changes that will reflect the two-decade gap between both movies. Even though it's unclear what this could mean, Mulroney's statement is an indication the movie will have plenty of new dynamics to keep events fresh and interesting. This is while it also embraces the classic elements of the film that make it such a key success in the world of Christmas comedies.
Since it appears The Family Stone sequel will have plenty of elements from the original while also honoring Keaton's role in the movie, there's a promise of both an emotionally resonant film, and a comedic Christmas adventure. The approach Mulroney hints at means the movie is going to have plenty of references to the original thanks to its returning cast, while also standing on its own as an important sequel to a classic holiday comedy.
Release Date December 16, 2005
Runtime 104 Minutes
Director Thomas Bezucha
English (US) ·