Jean Smart Joins ‘The Family Stone’ Sequel With Original Cast Returning

Jean Smart is joining the Stone family for the holidays. On the heels of her fifth Emmy win for her portrayal of Deborah Vance in Hacks earlier this month, Smart has been cast in Searchlight Pictures’ sequel to the 2005 holiday classic The Family Stone, which sees much of the original cast set to return. Titled The Families Stone, the sequel will see Claire Danes return as Julie Morton, Rachel McAdams as Amy Stone, Dermot Mulroney as Everett Stone, Craig T. Nelson as Kelly Stone, Sarah Jessica Parker as Meredith Morton, Luke Wilson as Ben Stone, Tyrone Giordano as Thad Stone, Elizabeth Reaser as Susannah Stone, Paul Schneider as Brad Stevenson and Brian White as Patrick Thomas. Thomas Bezucha, who wrote and directed the original film, is also returning to write and direct the sequel. Principal photography is set to begin this fall in New York. Here’s the official logline for The Families Stone: “Twenty years after their mother’s passing, the Stone family reunites for Christmas only to face the season’s biggest surprise: their father has unexpectedly invited the woman he’s fallen in love with to meet the family.” The 2005 film followed Everett (Mulroney), the eldest son of the Stone family, as he brought his uptight girlfriend, Meredith (Parker), home to meet his parents — played by Diane Keaton and Nelson — and siblings — played by Wilson, McAdams, Giordano and Reaser — for Christmas. Everett planned to propose to Meredith, but after she became overwhelmed by the family’s hostile reception, she asked her sister, Julie (Danes), to join her for support, sparking a chaotic holiday visit. Keaton’s Sybil Stone dies of a terminal illness at the end of the original movie. Keaton died of primary bacterial pneumonia in October 2025 at age 79. “After the death of Diane Keaton, it’ll be even more meaningful because she was so great to be around on the first one,” Wilson said to Entertainment Tonight in July. The Family Stone grossed $92.9 million worldwide and has since become a holiday staple. Smart, a veteran actress, has earned numerous accolades over the course of her career, including eight Emmys, three SAG Awards, two Golden Globes and six Critics Choice Awards. She most recently wrapped the fifth and final season of Hacks. Smart is also known for Babylon, Garden State, Sweet Home Alabama, Mare of Easttown, Watchmen and Fargo. Up next, she will co-star in the romantic comedy Egg Baby from Amazon MGM Studios. The Families Stone producers include Michael London and Shannon Gaulding for Groundswell Productions, Parker and Alison Benson for Pretty Matches Productions. Smart is repped by WME and Untitled Entertainment.