If Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros. goes through, David Ellison has promised exhibitors 30 movies annually. That commitment may help prove that the romantic comedy is not dead—it has merely been sleeping.
According to Variety, Kate Hudson is preparing to return to the world of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days more than two decades after the romantic comedy became a box office hit.
Kate Hudson in How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days – OM Trailers
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Paramount Pictures is in the early stages of developing a sequel to the 2003 movie, with Hudson attached to produce alongside Stacey Sher through their Shiny Penny Productions banner.
While the studio reportedly hopes that Hudson and Matthew McConaughey will reprise their roles as Andie Anderson and Benjamin Barry, neither actor has officially signed on to appear. The involvement of additional cast members will likely depend on the story, and Paramount is currently searching for a writer. No plot details have been revealed, and the project does not yet have a director or release date.
A Classic Screwball Formula
Directed by Donald Petrie, the original movie followed Andie, a magazine columnist who agrees to drive away a man in ten days for an article about common dating mistakes.
The story follows the structure of a classic Hollywood screwball comedy. For her subject, Andie chooses Ben, an advertising executive who has wagered that he can make any woman fall in love with him during the same ten-day period. Neither knows about the other’s scheme, creating an escalating battle in which both struggle to achieve their competing goals.
It is a formula that Hollywood has largely abandoned on the big screen, although it continues to endure on cable and streaming.
Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days – OM Trailers
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Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days became a commercial success. The movie earned approximately $177 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $50 million.
In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz, McConaughey described the film as an “anchor” of the romantic comedy genre.
Both Hudson and McConaughey have repeatedly expressed interest in revisiting Andie and Ben, provided the filmmakers develop a worthwhile story.
That said, constructing a premise for the sequel may prove difficult. The original movie’s title and central gimmick depended upon two strangers secretly manipulating each other. Repeating that exact scenario with the same characters would make little sense after their schemes were exposed and they ultimately fell in love.
A follow-up could instead explore Andie and Ben’s relationship decades later, potentially examining marriage, children, or the challenges of remaining together. Paramount could also introduce younger characters who become involved in a similar romantic experiment.
The Sequel Fits Ellison’s Theatrical Strategy
The sequel comes as Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison promises to increase the studio’s theatrical output.
Ellison has offered theater owners contractual guarantees that a combined Paramount-Warner Bros. would release at least 30 movies theatrically each year if the proposed merger is completed. Those commitments would reportedly include exclusive theatrical windows of at least 45 days and prevent the movies from reaching streaming services for at least 90 days.
Matthew McConaughey in How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days – OM Trailers
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As previously reported, the agreements could include financial penalties if Paramount fails to deliver the promised number of releases.
Nostalgia Could Make the Timing Right
Reviving a recognizable romantic comedy fits naturally into that strategy. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days retains considerable cultural recognition, while Hudson and McConaughey remain closely associated with the movie. With nostalgia running high for early 2000s properties such as The Devil Wears Prada, Scream, and Shrek, this may be the ideal time to revive the classic romantic comedy.
However, development is only beginning, and many announced sequels never reach production. Paramount must still find a story capable of justifying Andie and Ben’s return—and persuade both stars to step back into their familiar roles.
Are you interested in a sequel to How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days? Sound off and let us know!
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