The wait for the sequel is completely my fault.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Was there a specific event or experience that inspiredMy Big Fat Greek Wedding 2?
She said, Just think, in 13 years theyll leave us and go to college!
Credit: Don Arnold/WireImage
And I went Gulp.
I worked on the script for almost four years.
What about your specific experience with motherhood was important to address in this movie?
George Kraychyk
Its a moment of looking in the mirror and going, I need to put on some lipstick.
Thats how I felt.
I was like, Its got to be authentic.
Which cast member did you call first with the news about a sequel?
What do you think John did in his role that made it so important to bring him back?
Thats an excellent question.
He wasnt ever judgmental of them.
He shrugged his shoulders and said, Sure, Ill get baptized.
Thats what John Corbett has in his eyes.
He was raised by a single mother.
He is that person.
I confided in him.
He took my hand and said, Thats okay.
We dont have to make a sequel.
We can be friends.
And hes been one of my closest friends.
Did you experience any difficulties resigning any of the original cast?
I said, Beth I cannot do it without you.
What would it take to bring you with us again on this fantastic fun Disneyland ride?
And she said, Id like to bring my daughter with me.
So she came too.
You have a few newcomers to the film, including John Stamos.
Why was it important to bring him on?
I had to keep my promise to her.
Tell me about the process of finding an actress to play your daughter.
The producers and I felt it was extremely important to discover an unknown person.
Elena embodied everything we were looking for in.
There was something about the way she channeled the angst, innocence, and awkwardness.
She pulled it off in an on-tape audition without any direction.
InMy Big Fat Greek Wedding2, you recreate a few scenes from the first film.
Which was your favorite to tackle?
My favorite was walking into Dancing Zorbas with Michael Constantine.
It was such an emotional day for us.
They rebuilt almost everything, except the Portokalos house, which is authentic.
Its the same house.
RELATED VIDEO:My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2trailer
Are you planning to make a third film?
Have you been talking to John Corbett?
And what was your response?
I said, I need a little time to write it but I wont make you wait 14 years.
It really is complicated stuff.
America was founded on immigrants.
The immigrant experience is common to all of us.
Im Peruvian and I married a woman from Italy.
Those stories have made me realize that were all the same.
