The power trio at the centre of 1996’s The First Wives Club – Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler – are collaborating once again. This time, it’s for a Christmas comedy film titled Family Jewels.
Like the aforementioned 90s movie, this film revolves around three ex-wives of a husband. Though this time, they were all at one point married to the same man. And after that man drops dead, the estranged widows must reunite with all their kids and grandkids and grit their way through the holidays together.
Peter Hoare has penned the script. New Republic Pictures is planning on a 2020 production start, with a release date yet to be determined, though obviously it will be sometime around the holidays.
Bradley Fischer, one of the producers of the film, said in a statement: “The chemistry of Diane, Bette and Goldie is unmatched and irresistible, and I’m thrilled to help reunite them on screen for generations of fans”.
Keaton has actually starred in the holiday comedy with the word Family in it before; 2005’s The Family Stone. She’s also found an impressive niche with films predominantly aimed at middle aged women. 2018’s Book Club, which also starred Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen, was a surprise delight an grossed a superb $104 million from just a $14 million budget at the box office.
As for Hawn and Midler, neither of them have physically appeared in a film since 2017. For Hawn, that was the comedy Snatched with Amy Schumer, which was her first film since 2002’s The Banger Sisters. Midler has been a bit busier in recent years and was last seen in 2017’s Freak Show, although she did lend her voice to last year’s animated version of The Addams Family.
The First Wives Club is still a valuable property. The original novel is still popular, there was a musical adaptation, and there’s an upcoming TV series. So getting the three stars back together for a film is a smart move. Expect this to perform pretty well at the box office. The holiday season is the perfect time for this sort of nostalgic comfort food.
#Peace.Love.FamilyJewels
