St Trinian's sequel announced

Ealing Studios is to make a sequel to the recent hit St Trinian’s film.

Rupert Everett will again be donning drag to play headmistress Miss Fritton in the follow-up St. Trinian’s 2: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold.

The film, due out next year, is set to include most of the cast that made the recent revival such a hit, taking more than £12million at the UK box office alone.

In the sequel, the mischievous schoolgirls of St Trinian’s set off on a treasure hunt after they discover headmistress Miss Fritton is related to pirates.

It will be directed by Oliver Parker and studio chief Barnaby Thompson, both of whom worked on last year’s hit, starring Russell Brand as the spivvy Flash Harry.

As the sequel was announced at the Cannes Film Festival, Thompson said: ‘It would be good with to get the old gang back in.’

‘It will shoot half in school and half on location. It’s early but we hope to get most of the same cast back, along with a few new girls.’

The budget is expected to be ‘slightly larger’ than the first.

Filming is expected to start in January, continuing Ealing’s revival as a significant British film studio.

Ealing managing director James Spring: ‘The main thing for us is we’ve hit our target of making four to six films a year. With our sales arm we’re looking to come up with strong, distinctive slate of movies that we can take to market and have international appeal.’

Published: 19 May 2008