We've heard a lot about the grey dollar lately, but we've yet to actually see one. That may be because most of them are locked in the Fox Searchlight bank vaults after the smash-hit sleeper that was The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.** Today Deadline reports that the sequel is posed to add Richard Gere - and the powerful Office And A Gentleman** / Pretty Woman nostalgia lobby - to its ranks.
The first film, described as "charming and delightful" by this parish, saw a group of English pensioners lured to Jaipur by ads promising a dazzling hotel sanctuary for "the elderly and beautiful". When the reality falls short of the advertisement, the resourceful septegenarians set to work helping Dev Patel's inexperienced hotel manager to make the best of it.
With Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton and Maggie Smith all involved, it found an audience - and then some - taking $136m in global box office. According to Deadline, all are expected to be back for the sequel, joined by Gere in a new role. This may or may not involve buying everyone doves with his flash credit card{
Filming on the sequel is due to start early in 2014. More casting news as we get it.