Jessica Chastain Making Sequel To Her Best Movie?
By this time next year, Jessica Chastain will have appeared in more than 60 productions. But even after playing a diverse spectrum of characters that range from Murph in Interstellar to Molly Bloom in Molly’s Game to Maya in Zero Dark Thirty, there is one role Chastain would love to reprise more than any other. According to Deadline, the actress would love to play Celia Foote in The Help 2.
The 2011 film The Help, directed by Tate Taylor and based on Kathryn Stockett’s novel, left a lasting impact on audiences with its poignant portrayal of racial tensions and the unlikely bonds formed between Black maids and their white employers in the 1960s.
Discussing a possible sequel, Jessica Chastain suggested the prospect of Celia and Minny living together and raising a child together.
Recently, actress Jessica Chastain, who played the endearing character Celia Foote, has sparked intrigue by sharing her vision for a potential The Help 2 that delves deeper into the lives of Celia and her loyal friend Minny Jackson, played by Octavia Spencer.
In The Help, Celia Foote, a vibrant and somewhat unconventional woman, crosses paths with Minny Jackson, her African American maid, and, despite their differing backgrounds and societal roles, their friendship blossoms amidst turbulent marriages and personal struggles. Jessica Chastain’s suggestion of revisiting these characters in The Help 2 is intriguing—what would the lives of Celia and Minny look like after the events of the first film? Chastain has a few ideas.
One of the film’s central themes is the disparity in opportunities and treatment faced by Black individuals during a time of widespread racial inequality. Jessica Chastain’s Celia and Octavia Spencer’s Minny shed light on this issue, showcasing the stark differences in their lives while highlighting their shared humanity.
Jessica Chastain explained that when playing Celia, she dove deep into the character, though hardly any of what she came up with was shown in the film as Celia was a supporting role.
A sequel in the form of The Help 2 could delve deeper into how they navigate the challenges posed by an unforgiving society while also celebrating their personal triumphs.
Discussing a possible sequel, Jessica Chastain suggested the prospect of Celia and Minny living together and raising a child together. In The Help, the two characters develop a strong bond that defies societal norms, and their dynamic presents an opportunity to explore the complexities of family and unconventional relationships.
The Help 2 could delve into the intricacies of their shared household, offering a glimpse into the joys and struggles of their unique arrangement, touching on themes of motherhood, identity, and the definition of family, and fostering meaningful discussions about love and acceptance.
Jessica Chastain explained that when playing Celia, she dove deep into the character, though hardly any of what she came up with was shown in the film as Celia was a supporting role. Chastain would love to bring the character into the spotlight, having The Help 2 focus on her and Minny as the central characters, diving into the depths of their experiences, dreams, and growth, granting the two supporting characters a well-deserved opportunity to shine.
The movie rights for The Help belong to Disney, so, ultimately, the possibility of a sequel is up to them.
The Help was a box office smash, bringing in $216.6 million at the time of its release, and critics loved the film, calling it touching, entertaining, and healing. Hollywood executives are often quick to jump into sequel productions when films are released to such critical and financial success, but no rumors of a The Help 2 were ever discussed prior to Jessica Chastain igniting the conversation.
This could have had something to do with the controversy and accusations from the film’s star Viola Davis that the film was “created in the filter and the cesspool of systemic racism,” referring to how the film told Black stories through white storytellers.
However, Jessica Chastain’s suggestion of creating The Help 2 around Celia and Minny living together and raising a child could make an interesting story while simultaneously addressing the aspects of the original film that the creators could have done better.
The movie rights for The Help belong to Disney, so, ultimately, the possibility of a sequel is up to them. Which means there probably won’t be a The Help sequel or any other film sequel coming out of the House of Mouse any time soon, at least not until Disney finishes its battles with Florida and ends the current writers and actors strikes that have all Hollywood productions placed on halt.
