Richard Gere And David Strathairn Join The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2

Back in 2012 Fox Searchlight released The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a charming and delightful little film that was very well received. In fact, praise for the film was so strong that the company decided to do something that they’ve never done before: make a sequel. That’s right, production is about to get underway on The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2 with several of the original cast members set to return (Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and Dev Patel). Furthermore, today, Fox Searchlight has announced that two more well-respected talents have joined the film in the forms of Richard Gere and David Strathairn.

In addition to revealing the two new cast members, the studio also released a pretty lengthy plot summary, which can be viewed below:

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2 is the expansionist dream of Sonny (Dev Patel), and it’s making more claims on his time than he has available, considering his imminent marriage to the love of his life, Sunaina (Tena Desae). Sonny has his eye on a promising property now that his first venture, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful, has only a single remaining vacancy – posing a rooming predicament for fresh arrivals Guy (Richard Gere) and Lavinia (Tamsin Greig). Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) have now joined the Jaipur workforce, and are wondering where their regular dates for Chilla pancakes will lead, while Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) are negotiating the tricky waters of an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two eligible and very wealthy suitors. Perhaps the only one who may know the answers is newly installed co-manager of the hotel, Muriel (Maggie Smith), the keeper of everyone’s secrets. As the demands of a traditional Indian wedding threaten to engulf them all, an unexpected way forward presents itself.

With production only just getting ready to begin, I wouldn’t expect this one to hit theatres until next year. Maybe in late 2014 if we’re lucky. Until then, let us know what you think of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2‘s newest additions.