The Stone family is coming back for another Christmas. Searchlight Pictures has announced The Families Stone, a sequel to the 2005 comedy-drama The Family Stone. Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel McAdams, Claire Danes, Dermot Mulroney, Craig T. Nelson, Luke Wilson, and four more members of the original cast are returning.

Thomas Bezucha, who wrote and directed the first movie, is returning to write and direct. Searchlight has not announced when filming starts or when the sequel will be released.

Who is returning for The Families Stone?

The confirmed cast brings back all five Stone siblings, their father, and several partners from the original movie:

  • Sarah Jessica Parker as Meredith Morton.
  • Rachel McAdams as Amy Stone.
  • Claire Danes as Julie Morton.
  • Dermot Mulroney as Everett Stone.
  • Craig T. Nelson as Kelly Stone.
  • Luke Wilson as Ben Stone.
  • Elizabeth Reaser as Susannah Stone.
  • Paul Schneider as Brad Stevenson.
  • Tyrone Giordano as Thad Stone.
  • Brian J. White as Patrick Thomas.
Dermot Mulroney, Claire Danes, Craig T. Nelson, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson, and Sarah Jessica Parker pose in The Family Stone artwork.
The original cast includes Dermot Mulroney, Claire Danes, Craig T. Nelson, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson, and Sarah Jessica Parker. Image: 20th Century Studios.

The announcement does not name the actor playing Kelly’s new partner or confirm whether any younger members of the extended Stone family will appear.

Spoiler warning: The next sections discuss the ending of The Family Stone.

What is The Families Stone about?

The sequel takes place 20 years after Sybil Stone’s death. The family reunites for Christmas, and Kelly surprises his adult children by bringing home the woman he has fallen in love with.

That setup reverses the first movie. The Family Stone began with Everett bringing Meredith home to meet his parents and siblings. This time, their father is the one introducing a new partner and waiting to see how the family reacts.

Searchlight has not revealed who Kelly’s partner is, how the siblings’ relationships have changed, or whether the story will return to the same Connecticut house.

How will the sequel address Diane Keaton’s absence?

Diane Keaton played Sybil, the Stone family’s mother and the center of the original film. Keaton died in October 2025 at age 79. Bezucha had already started writing the sequel and later said he wanted the new film to honor her.

Diane Keaton sits smiling in a chair as Sybil Stone in The Family Stone.
Diane Keaton played Sybil Stone in the original film. Image: 20th Century Studios.

The new story does not recast Sybil. It brings the family together two decades after her death and shows Kelly preparing to introduce someone new. That gives the sequel a direct way to acknowledge Keaton while moving the surviving characters forward.

When will The Families Stone be released?

Searchlight has not set a release date or shared a trailer. The official announcement only says “Coming Soon.” A rating and full production schedule are also unconfirmed.

The title, story, writer-director, and ten returning actors are confirmed. The release date is the major detail still missing.