The The Family Stone sequel has brought most of the 2005 film’s original cast back for a new Christmas story, titled The Families Stone. Thomas Bezucha, who wrote and directed the first film, is returning in both roles.
The Family Stone sequel returns to the Stone family
The returning cast includes Claire Danes as Julie Morton, Rachel McAdams as Amy Stone, Dermot Mulroney as Everett Stone, Craig T. Nelson as Kelly Stone, Sarah Jessica Parker as Meredith Morton and Luke Wilson as Ben Stone. Tyrone Giordano, Elizabeth Reaser, Paul Schneider and Brian White are also returning.
The follow-up is set 20 years after the events of the original film. Its story reunites the family at Christmas after Kelly Stone invites the woman he has fallen in love with to meet them. The official logline, reported by The Hollywood Reporter, says the reunion takes place 20 years after Sybil Stone’s death.
What happened to Diane Keaton’s character?
Diane Keaton, who played the family’s matriarch Sybil Stone, died in October 2025 and will not return. The sequel’s premise acknowledges her absence rather than trying to quietly rearrange the family tree.
Bezucha had already been working on a follow-up before Keaton’s death. He told CNN that the loss changed how he approached the script and that he wanted to honour Keaton through the film.
The original The Family Stone grossed $92.9 million worldwide after its 2005 release and became a regular holiday rewatch. Production on The Families Stone is expected to take place in New York this autumn, according to Deadline. No release date or UAE cinema and streaming details have been announced.
The original film’s availability in the UAE can be checked in our guide to where to watch The Family Stone in the UAE.
What is The Family Stone sequel called?
The sequel is titled The Families Stone.
Who is returning for The Family Stone sequel?
Rachel McAdams, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Claire Danes, Dermot Mulroney, Craig T. Nelson and several other original cast members are returning.
Will Diane Keaton appear in The Families Stone?
No. Diane Keaton died in October 2025, and the sequel takes place 20 years after the death of her character, Sybil Stone.
