SerpApi.Org
There's been something of a resurgence in nostalgic legacy sequels recently. In recent years, audiences have returned to everything from Beetlejuice and Beverly Hills Cop to The Devil Wears Prada, with Hollywood revisiting beloved films decades after their original releases. Now it seems that there is the potential for one of the most popular family films of the nineties to receive the same treatment, more than 30 years after it first arrived in theaters.
Speaking during an appearance at a Fanboy Expo in Tennessee, former child star Mara Wilson addressed the possibility of returning to the title role of Matilda. The original 1996 film, which regularly ranks highly on lists of the best Roald Dahl adaptations, was directed by Danny DeVito, who also starred opposite Rhea Perlman as Matilda's comically neglectful, self-obsessed parents. As reported byPeople, Wilson admitted that the subject of a sequel comes up surprisingly often:
"People always ask me about doing a Matilda 2. And that could be possible."
While she stopped short of confirming any details, this is the strongest indication yet that she would at least be open to the possibility of stepping back into her defining role. The timing is notable too, since the success of Matilda: The Musical — and the subsequent film adaptation in 2022 — has introduced the character to a whole new generation, meaning that this is potentially the best time to develop a sequel.
Of course, bringing Matilda back wouldn't be that straightforward. The story ends pretty conclusively, with Matilda finally happy, so any continuation would effectively have to start from scratch. Wilson herself has already given considerable thought to what a sequel should (and shouldn't) look like, particularly when it comes to one of the story's defining elements: Matilda's telekinetic powers:
"One thing that people always say is, 'Oh, maybe it could be Matilda's daughter', and I have some issues with that, because I think Matilda's powers come from her adversity... They come from the bad things she went through, and the whole point is that she overcame these things. And she found power in educating herself and in making friends with these people who were really lovely"
Wilson's reasoning closely reflects Roald Dahl's original novel. By the end of the story, Matilda's powers dwindle as she finds happiness in living with Miss Honey. The implication is that her telekinetic talents manifest as a way of protecting herself from the emotional strain of living with her neglectful parents, and the abuse she endures at the hands of Miss Trunchbull, rather than being a permanent superpower. As she said herself: "I don't think Matilda would raise her daughter to be in a position where she developed those powers to protect herself." This doesn't rule a sequel out, but does suggest Wilson would only return if the story remained true to the themes that made Matilda so enduring in the first place.
There's currently no indication that a sequel is in development, and reuniting much of the original cast would present its own challenge, although DeVito has consistently referred to the original film as one of his favorites. Still, it's promising to hear that Wilson at least is open to the possibility. Having largely stepped away from acting, her willingness to revisit the role means the prospect of a sequel suddenly feels a little more tangible than it did before.
