It’s been a long-time coming, but a third Sister Act film has been confirmed, with a script already in the works. The franchise’s lead actor, Whoopi Goldberg, confirmed as much and teased that much of the original cast is set to return. One person she was eager to have back was Maggie Smith, but, sadly, she passed away before the project could really begin.
What does this mean for the upcoming movie? Thankfully, Goldberg has revealed the next steps.
Sister Act franchise
The 1992 film Sister Act, directed by Emile Ardolino, stars Whoopi Goldberg as Deloris Wilson-Van Cartier, a lively lounge singer who’s forced to enter a convent under witness protection after witnessing a crime. Maggie Smith co-stars as Reverend Mother, the strict, yet supportive convent head who initially clashes with Wilson-Van Cartier, but later appreciates her unconventional ways.
The movie was a commercial success, grossing over $231 million worldwide, and it became a beloved classic, thanks to its mix of humor, heart and memorable musical numbers. Being such a success, the sequel, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, was released in 1993. Directed by Bill Duke, it sees Goldberg’s Wilson-Van Cartier return to the convent to help teach music at a struggling inner-city Catholic school. Maggie Smith reprises her role as Reverend Mother.
This time around, Wilson-Van Cartier must inspire a group of disillusioned teenagers and help them find their purpose through song and teamwork. While it features a young Lauryn Hill in a breakout role and continued to showcase Goldberg’s comedic and musical talents, it didn’t achieve the same critical or box office success as its predecessor, earning $124 million worldwide.
Whoopi Goldberg wanted Maggie Smith to return
Rumors of a third film in the Sister Act franchise began circulating as early as 2020. They were confirmed in October of that year, when Whoopi Goldberg appeared on The Late Late Show With James Corden (2015-23).
During the interview, she explained, “For a long time, they kept saying no one wanted to see it. And then quite recently, it turns out, that may not be true. People may want to see it. So, we’re working diligently to try to figure out how to get the gang together and come back.”
In January 2023, Goldberg appeared on Loose Women (1999-present), where she said she and the rest of the team on the project were “holding the part of Mother Superior” for Maggie Smith. Given her old age, Goldberg explained they were willing to film the movie wherever it was most convenient for Smith, to ensure her comfort in shooting while also including her.
They’ve had to readjust since Maggie Smith’s death
Sadly, Maggie Smith died on September 27, 2024, at the age of 89. Following her death, Whoopi Goldberg shared a picture of the two together on set of the original Sister Act movie on her social media. In the caption, she wrote, “Maggie Smith was a great woman and a brilliant actress. I still can’t believe I was lucky enough to work with the ‘one-of-a-kind.’ My heartfelt condolences go out to the family…RIP.”
Goldberg addressed how Smith’s death will affect the third instalment during an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014-present), saying, “We’re having to make some readjustments because we just lost Maggie Smith, as you know. And so, we will get it done. We will get it done. It’s a shift.”
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We’re excited for the third film to come out and are looking forward to seeing how they pay tribute to Smith.