Keep calm and carry on: “Red, White, and Royal Blue” is getting a sequel.
The beloved queer romance novel adaptation is now expanding beyond the book, with Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez confirmed to be reprising their respective roles as Prince Henry and Alex Claremont-Diaz in the Amazon MGM Studios film.
Author Casey McQuiston will co-write the script for the sequel with returning screenwriter Matthew López. And if there is going to be a new book to turn “Red, White, and Royal Blue” into a franchise series, it hasn’t been announced yet. Tony Award-winning playwright López also directed the first feature; it has not been announced yet if he will helm the follow-up.
The “Red, White, and Royal Blue 2” news was announced ahead of Amazon’s inaugural upfront presentation May 14.
Berlanti Schechter Films’ Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter will return to produce the sequel film, joined by the banner’s Michael McGrath, as well as screenwriter López. Screenwriter/author McQuiston will executive produce.
“Red, White, and Royal Blue” followed the enemies-to-lovers romance between Alex (Perez), the son of the U.S. President (Uma Thurman), and British Prince Henry (Galitzine). The R-rated queer rom-com premiered in 2023.
Actor Galitzine, who recently co-led fellow Amazon MGM Studios novel adaptation film “The Idea of You,” recently told British GQ that he has “felt a sense of uncertainty” taking on queer roles as a straight-identifying man. Galitzine also starred in queer drama “George & Mary.”
“I identify as a straight man, but I have been a part of some incredible queer stories,” Galitzine said. “I felt a sense of uncertainty sometimes about whether I’m taking up someone’s space, and perhaps guilt. At the same time, I see those characters as not solely their sexuality.”
The actor continued, “I think the most important thing to me is that I’m taken seriously as a performer. I’m not gonna ask you to cry me a river here, but it’s been difficult being part of a conversation that feels very much like I am a cut of beef at a meat market. I think that being my defining feature is something I’m constantly terrified of.”
