Maggie Smith, Judi Dench & More to Return for 'MARIGOLD HOTEL 2', Richard Gere Among New Cast Members

Fox Searchlight Pictures President of Production Claudia Lewis and Participant Media Executive Vice President of Production Jonathan King announced today that production on The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2 has begun in India.

John Madden will once again helm the follow-up companion feature to the 2012 film from an original screenplay by OI Parker, from a story by Parker and Madden. Blueprint Pictures returns to produce the film.

The cast has reunited for the film including stars Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Penelope Wilton, Diana Hardcastle, Tena Desae and Lillete Dubey. Additional cast making their debut include Richard Gere, David Strathairn and Tamsin Greig.

"We're thrilled to reunite our creative and delightful Marigold Hotel family along with some intriguing new 'guests', said Lewis. "With John Madden's direction and OI Parker's orignial screenplay, we look forward to further exploring our characters' rich stories and triumphs."

Added King, "We're delighted to be reteaming with our good friends at Fox Searchlight and the incredibly talented filmmakers for another chapter in this inspirational story. We believe audiences will be as happy as we are to spend more time at The Marigold, as this remarkable cast continues to demonstrate that life can be an adventure at any age."

The original film was releassed in Spring 2012 to record-breaking business in the UK and US, earning more than $135 million worldwide, along with a host of critical acclaim and accolades including Best Picture nominations form The Hollywood Foreign Press, BAFTA and The Screen Actors Guild. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2 marks the first sequel ever released by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Source: Fox Searchlight Pictures