Love Actually has become a modern classic Christmas movie, and a re-watch has become a holiday tradition for rom com fans everywhere. The 2003 movie brought together a cast of some of the biggest names in British cinema, and it did well at the box office, but a big screen sequel never happened. We recently learned that a small screen sequel is in the works, and now the first pictures of filming have hit the web. Take a look!
The sequel is set to only run for ten minutes or so, and pictures posted by the Red Nose Day Twitter account reveal that the short film will feature Daniel and Sam back for another bench heart-to-heart. Liam Neeson and Thomas Brodie-Sangster look like they'll be recreating the unforgettable Love Actually sequence that featured stepdad Daniel trying to connect with young Sam in the wake of his mother's death. It was a charming scene that revealed to Daniel that no person is too young to understand "the total agony of being in love," and it set Sam on a path that would lead to a kiss on the cheek from his pre-teen lady love.
We already knew that both Liam Neeson and Thomas Brodie-Sangster were slated to appear in the Love Actually sequel. Still, it's nice to have confirmation that they'll share at least one scene with just the two of them. Thomas Brodie-Sangster seems to have grown out his hair to the perfect length for tousling, and Liam Neeson still seems to have a twinkle in his eye (despite all the distinctly un-twinkly Taken movies in the years since Love Actually), so my fingers are crossed that the actors will be able to recapture the magic when they reprise their roles as Sam and Daniel. Check out their iconic bench scene for a blast from the past!
Unfortunately, the two actors probably won't have too much time to recapture their magic. Liam Neeson and Thomas Brodie-Sangster are not the only Love Actually stars who have signed on to appear in the TV sequel; they'll be joined by Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, Colin Firth, Lucia Moniz, Olivia Olson, Bill Nighy, Marcus Brigstocke, and Rowan Atkinson. Luckily, the project is being penned by Love Actually writer and director Richard Curtis, and he has already proved that he knows how to weave an awful lot of love stories into a relatively small window of time.
The stars are reuniting for the Love Actually sequel for a very good cause. The project will air as part of the Red Nose Day campaign, which features a wide variety of celebrities in all kinds of sketches to raise awareness for children living in poverty. Past sketches have involved everything from a spoof Game of Thrones musical to Will Ferrell and Nick Offerman on The Voice. We can bet that the Love Actually reunion will be a highlight of this year's Red Nose Day festivities.
You can catch Liam Neeson and Thomas Brodie-Sangster back in character for the Love Actually sequel when it airs during the Red Nose Day Special in the U.S. on May 25 on NBC. Brits across the pond can see the short film a little earlier when it makes its BBC premiere on March 24. Take a look at our midseason TV premiere schedule to see what you can watch in the meantime.
