The Family Stone Is Coming Back – Original Cast Reunites for Christmas Sequel

What is The Families Stone about?

The sequel will take place around 20 years after the events of the original film and will once again bring the Stone family together for Christmas.

According to Searchlight's official synopsis, the family reunites for the holidays two decades after the death of their mother, Sybil Stone.

This Christmas, however, their father Kelly has a major surprise for everyone: he has fallen in love again and has invited the new woman in his life to meet the family.

That new character will be played by Hacks star Jean Smart, who has joined the returning ensemble cast.

With the Stones hardly known for having calm and uncomplicated family Christmases, it sounds like the sequel could recreate much of the awkward humour, family drama and emotional warmth that made the original such a popular festive movie.

Which original cast members are returning?

Searchlight has confirmed the return of:

• Sarah Jessica Parker as Meredith Morton

• Dermot Mulroney as Everett Stone

• Rachel McAdams as Amy Stone

• Claire Danes as Julie Morton

• Luke Wilson as Ben Stone

• Craig T. Nelson as Kelly Stone

• Tyrone Giordano as Thad Stone

• Elizabeth Reaser as Susannah Stone

• Paul Schneider as Brad Stevenson

• Brian White as Patrick Thomas

Jean Smart is the biggest new addition announced so far.

Writer and director Thomas Bezucha, who created the original The Family Stone, is also returning to write and direct the sequel.

What about Diane Keaton?

Diane Keaton played Stone family matriarch Sybil in the original movie and was one of the emotional anchors of the story.

The new film will directly acknowledge Sybil's absence, with the story taking place 20 years after her death.

Bezucha has previously spoken about how important Sybil remains to the new story, meaning her presence is likely to be strongly felt even though the character won't physically appear.

It should give The Families Stone a particularly emotional element for fans who have loved the original movie for the past two decades.

When will The Families Stone be released?

An official release date has not yet been announced.

Searchlight has so far simply described the movie as “Coming Soon.”

Production is expected to begin in New York during autumn 2026, which makes a Christmas 2027 release appear very possible, although this has not yet been confirmed by the studio.

We will update this article as soon as an official release date is announced.

The Family Stone has become a Christmas favourite

Released in 2005, The Family Stone followed Meredith Morton, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, as she joined boyfriend Everett's large and extremely close family for Christmas.

What followed was an uncomfortable, funny and surprisingly emotional festive gathering involving romance, family arguments, misunderstandings and some very complicated relationships.

The film has continued to find new audiences over the years and has become a regular Christmas rewatch for many viewers.

That makes the prospect of returning to the Stone family's Christmas celebrations more than two decades later particularly exciting.

And with almost all of the original cast back together, The Families Stone already looks set to be one of the most anticipated Christmas movies of the next couple of years.

The Families Stone is currently expected to begin filming in New York in late 2026. An official release date has yet to be announced, but Christmas 2027 looks like a strong possibility.