In 2017, Julia Roberts starred in the box office hit,Wonder, and now the coming-of-age movie is getting an unexpected sequel starring Helen Mirren. Based on a book by R.J. Palacio,Wondertells the story of Auggie, a young boy with a facial deformity who enters a new fifth grade class at his local public school.Auggie’s peers must come to terms with his differencesand become compassionate, seeing the bright young boy he truly is. The movie not only earned an impressive $315 million at the box office, but it also has a Certified Fresh 86% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Because it has been seven years since the movie’s initial release,Wonderhas gone somewhat under the radar in recent years. As mentioned above, the movie was incredibly successful, but has somewhat ebbed away in favor of other heartwarming children’s movies. Notably, the star-studded cast has moved on to other big projects. For example,Wonderwas a massive step forward for young actor Jacob Tremblay, yet these days he has earned even bigger roles in movies likeThe Little MermaidandThe Life of Chuck.However,Wonderwill return to the public eye soon with the release of its sequel.
Helen Mirren’s White Bird Is A Prequel & Sequel To Julia Robert’s Wonder
What White Bird Is About
In October 2024, a new movie calledWhite Birdwill be released in theaters.White Birdis both a prequel and a sequel to 2017’s Wonder, as it has dual timelines that take place after the events ofWonderand long before the coming-of-age tale.It follows Julian, one of Auggie’s bullies-turned-friendsfrom the original movie, and his grandmother, who comes to visit from Paris. Like its predecessor,White Birdis based on a graphic novel written by R.J. Palacio. The movie stars Helen Mirren, Gillian Anderson, Ariella Glaser, Orlando Schwerdt, and Bryce Gheisar.
Sara’s story is much darker than that ofWonder,but it is still inextricably linked by its themes of acceptance and friendship.
InWhite Bird,Julian is visited by his grandmother, Sara. After telling Sara about his experience with Auggie, Sara delves into her own story of acceptance. During World War II,Sara was a young Jewish girl living in Nazi-occupied France. To avoid being captured by the Germans, Sara is taken in by a young man named Julien, who suffers from poliomyelitis. In the face of insurmountable danger, the two adolescents learn to accept one another, despite their differences. Sara’s story is much darker than that ofWonder,but it is still inextricably linked by its themes of acceptance and friendship.
Which Wonder Cast Members Return For White Bird
Why White Bird Has A Mostly New Cast
AlthoughWhite Birdis a new installment in theWonderfranchise, only one actor from the 2017 movie is returning for the sequel.Bryce Gheisar, who portrayed Julian inWonder,will reprise his roleinWhite Bird.Otherwise, the 2024 film includes an entirely new cast of characters, most notably led by Helen Mirren, who plays the older version of Sara. The main reason whyWhite Bird’scast is entirely different fromWonder’sis because of the dual timelines of the movie. With most of the movie set in 1942,the original cast ofWonderisn’t as important.
Wonder Ending Explained
The 2017 film adaptation of Wonder, starring Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, and Owen Wilson, features an emotional and uplifting ending.
UnlikeWonder, White Birdonly has two well-known actors in its cast. WhereWonderboasted names such as Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Mandy Patinkin, and Daveed Diggs,White Birdonly has Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson. However,White Bird’sdirector is just as accomplished.Wonderwas directed by Stephen Chbosky, who previously worked on projects likeThe Perks of Being a WallflowerandBeauty and the Beast.Meanwhile,White Birdis directed by Marc Forster, who helmed movies likeFinding NeverlandandA Man Called Otto.In this way,White Birdis less star-studded, but has a solid foundation.
Will White Bird Be As Successful As Wonder?
White Bird May Have A Harder Time Than Wonder
AlthoughWhite Birdis a sequel toWonder,it seems unlikely that it will reach the same heights of success as its predecessor.Wonderhad several big names attached to it, which definitely helped bring in more audiences. Furthermore, Palacio’s book was fairly popular before the release of the movie. Unfortunately,White Birddoes not have the same benefits.Its book is not nearly as well-known asWonder,and based on its trailer, it isn’t as obvious that it is a sequel toWonder.In this way, it may not benefit from its franchise.
After being released internationally in January, critics have given early praise toWhite Bird,calling it compelling and suspenseful.
However,White Birdalso has a lot of positives going for it. It seems like it is going to be a sweet yet heartbreaking story that is good for a variety of audience members. Its historical ties may also increase interest. Of course, Helen Mirren is also a massive star, and this will likely pique viewers' interest as well. Thus,White Birdcould be an unexpected success, just likeWonderwas seven years ago.
White Bird
Cast
White Bird follows Julian’s transformative journey after his expulsion from Beecher Prep, as his grandmother recounts her courageous story of survival in Nazi-occupied France, where she was sheltered by a classmate amidst growing dangers.
