Exactly 21 years after the first film “Trainspotting” came out, the film’s original director and cast have worked on its sequel, “T2 Trainspotting.” Director Danny Boyle, who also directed “Slumdog Millionaire” reunited with Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller and Ewen Bremner for the sequel, which will be released on March 1, 2017 in the Philippines.
‘Reunion’ of Original Cast and Director
Boyle, who won the Academy award for Best Director for “Slumdog Millionaire,” has come back to directing after his 2015 “Steve Jobs” film. Ewan McGregor and Jonny Lee Miller are likewise busy with their own acting careers. McGregor most recently reprised his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in “Star Wars” while Miller still plays a modern-day Sherlock in the series “Elementary.”
The sequel is set 20 years after the events in the first film. According to the Inquirer, Boyle said it is “never too late to do a sequel.” He also added that the length of time makes the film even more interesting, because of the big difference in the actors’ appearances. He said, “When you put the actors side by side with how they looked 20 years ago, it’s very brutal. The guys dealt really well with how they look now and how that they were going to be compared to how they looked previously. It was honest. They weren’t shy about owning up to where they are now, and that’s what the movie is all about.”
Screenwriter John Hodge who adapted the screenplay from Irvine Welsh’s novel of the same title won the BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1996. The film is one of the most critically-acclaimed British films, making it to the Top 100 British Films of all times.
‘T2 Trainspotting:’ Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie and Spud 20 Years After
Miller, who reprises his role as Simon “Sick Boy” Williamson, described the film as more than just a coming together of the old crew in the old neighborhood. He said that it takes a look at the “bigger issues,” such as “What’s it like being older? What have you done? What’s happened to the characters and what are the implications?” Rather than a “straightforward sequel,” what makes it more “interesting” is “to put people’s lives in between it.”
“T2” sees McGregor as Mark Renton, going back home and encountering his old pals. Old conflicts and emotions are expected to flare up once again.
“T2 Trainspotting” will be shown exclusively in Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4 and Trinoma) starting March 1, 2017.