‘10 Things I Hate About You’ director reveals he’s working on a sequel
By Alexandra Bellusci
We don’t hate the idea of a follow-up film.
After directing the 1999 rom-com “10 Things I Hate About You,” Gil Junger revealed a second movie is in the works called “10 Things I Hate About Dating.”
” ’10 Things I Hate About Dating’ is definitively in the works as a feature film. We’re developing it right now,” the creator, 70, told People.
Junger is working with the original film’s producer, Andrew Lazar, and is co-writing the script with Naya Elle James.
Heath Ledger, David Krumholtz and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in “10 Things I Hate About You.”
©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
"10 Things I Hate About You" starring Heath Ledger, and Julia Stiles.
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Ledger and Julia Stiles in “10 Things I Hate About You.”
Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock
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He teased that the trio has “some pretty good ideas.”
“10 Things I Hate About You” follows Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles), who is a smart, quick-witted teenager but is also a loner. Due to rules implemented by their single dad, Walter (Larry Miller), her younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) can’t date until her older sister does.
Larisa Oleynik, Gabrielle Union, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and David Krumholtz in "10 Things I Hate About You."
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Larisa Oleynik, Gabrielle Union and Gordon-Levitt in “10 Things I Hate About You.”
©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
The 1999 film "10 Things I Hate About You."
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The 1999 film “10 Things I Hate About You.”
Richard Cartwright/Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock
And that might happen sooner rather than later, as once the charming new kid at school, Patrick (Heath Ledger), comes around, everything changes for Kat.
“I would love to work with Julia again,” Junger told the outlet. “She shaped the lives of millions of women. That Kat character really spoke to young women in a very powerful way.”
The director explained that since the movie is in the early stages, he hasn’t given casting much thought.
Director Gil Junger attends Hidden Tears project launch at Sofitel Hotel on August 29, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
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Director Gil Junger in 2015 in Los Angeles.
WireImage
“If it resonates with [the original cast] and I can have some cameos or even real parts, I’d love [that],” Junger admitted.
“I’d love Larry Miller to come back, because he’s so great,” he shared.
The movie’s leading male, Ledger, died in 2008 at 28 from an accidental overdose.
"10 Things I Hate About You" starring Heath Ledger, and Julia Stiles.
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Ledger and Stiles in “10 Things I Hate About You.”
Courtesy Everett Collection
“I think that’s a beautiful idea,” Junger said about including a nod to the fallen actor in the movie, “and the answer is now going to be yes. … He deserves to be loved.”
The film also starred Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union and Andrew Keegan.
During his chat, Junger mentioned that the current movie is set to be the first of three, with “10 Things I Hate About Marriage” and “10 Things I Hate About Kids” coming in the future.
Director Gil Junger on set of "10 Things I Hate About You."
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Junger on set of “10 Things I Hate About You.”
©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
The “Beauty and the Briefcase” director told People that before Ledger died, he wanted him to star in a sequel titled “10 Things I Hate About Me.”
Junger explained about his original idea: “Now I’m going to change it. But it was going to be a film that explored and exploded the myths of suicide. And because I have danced in that arena and I’ve been there, and I know that mental health, mental illness, depression, suicidal ideation is rampant. And it’s way more prevalent than anyone knows.”
Heather Ledger.
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Heath Ledger
Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock
News of a follow-up film comes on the heels of Stiles, 44, detailing her close bond with Ledger.
“He was amazing,” she gushed to E! News in January. “He was such a bright light.”
Stiles added that while she and her co-stars had “such a good time and were close on that set,” “The Dark Knight” star’s presence was larger than life.
“He just walked into the room and lit it up,” she shared.
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“He was very kind and generous to me,” Stiles continued, “which you know, when you’re an actress in your first leading role in a big studio movie, you need to feel comfortable with the other person. And he was very generous that way.”
1999 rom com "10 Things I Hate About You."
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Ledger in “10 Things I Hate About You.”
Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock
Looking back at the iconic scene when Kat reads her poem out loud during class, Stiles recalled the moment as a heartbreaking one.
“The scene where I read the poem, I did not expect to start crying or tearing up or choking up, whatever,” she said. “But it just happened because it was the movie was coming to an end, the production was coming to an end. And I think I was just so moved by the whole experience.”
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