Despite The Success Of ‘Girls Trip,’ Tiffany Haddish Says Studio Is Pressing Back On Sequel
Tiffany Haddish shined in her breakout role in Girls Trip. The comedy followed friends who reunite after years of being separated due to the business of life. It gave similar films like Bridesmaids a run for its money.
With the success of the first film, a sequel was promising and even was said to be in the works. But a recent update from Haddish reveals the sequel may not come to fruition.
‘Girls Trip’ was a massive box office success
Girls Trip is a 2017 comedy film written by Erica Rivinoja inspired by her own experiences with her best friends. The film follows a group of four who travel to New Orleans for the Essence Music Festival. Along with Haddish, the film stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Regina Hall.
The film debuted at the American Black Film Festival before it’s theatrical release. It received raving reviews from film critics, with most being impressed by Haddish’s performance. One Variety review read:
“Haddish has an irrepressible, unfiltered quality that’s sweetened by the fact she’s by far the most loyal member of the group. She’s also a uniquely black character, and that’s every bit as important to the movie’s affirmational portrayal of African-American women as the way that the three other characters represent more colorblind ideas of success. Dina’s greatest asset is how she holds true to herself, and that in turn motivates her friends to follow suit.”
Variety
With a budget of $20 million, Girls Trip grossed $140 million worldwide, with over $100 million in the U.S. alone. It was the first comedy of 2017 to gross that much and became the first film by an African American female screenwriter to cross the $100 million threshold. The film was also chosen by Time Magazine as one of its top 10 films of 2017.
Why Tiffany Haddish explains why the film studio is hesitant to produce a ‘Girls Trip’ sequel
As fans eagerly await a follow-up, Haddish revealed that it may not be in the form that fans are used to. She explained that the studio was initially on board but after the cast submitted their salary demands, the studio allegedly backed off.
“Then it was like, ‘Oh, you guys want too much money,’” she said, as reported by The Jasmine Brand. “We might decide not to even make it ‘Girls Trip.’ Maybe we’ll do a different story just in case no one wants to make ‘Girls Trip 2.’”
Haddish reportedly said that she made around $80,000 for the first film.
This isn’t the first time Haddish or any of the other cast from Girls Trip have commented on a potential sequel being stalled due to the studio. Page Six reported in May 2019 that Haddish gave an update to fans that studios did not appear interested in moving forward.
“I have been petitioning for it.” Haddish explained at the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Night of Comedy, “I’ve even written a script for it. Me and the girls punched it up and made it good. They don’t want it. We understood how much money could be made, and they don’t want to pay it. So I doubt it.”
While a rep for Haddish later told the outlet that Haddish was joking, it appears there’s some truth to it. Latifah and Hall both previously mentioned that they were both on board but that they had not heard of any updates regarding the film.
