Nia Vardalos confirmed longstanding rumors that there will be another My Big Fat Greek Wedding film on Instagram on Wednesday.
But with the confirmation also came the news that the third installment in the romantic comedy franchise has hit a snag.
It turns out the production, which is slated to shoot in Greece this go-around, is currently shut down because it can’t get insurance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Fans rejoice! Nia Vardalos took to social media this week to confirm the rumor that My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 has been in production
‘Yes, it is true that for over a year we have been trying to film a script that I wrote called My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3. But what is also true is that we’re not filming,’ Vardalos, 58, began in the video.
She then revealed that even though the film will again be ‘distributed by Universal Studios’ and ’employ hundreds of people’, the project can’t get insurance.
‘The fact is that we are an independent film and apparently independent films cannot get insurance,’ she said.
The ongoing coronavirus crisis requires films to get expensive COVID-19 insurance on set. But the steep price tag and limited availability of pandemic policies has made it more difficult for all films, especially indies.
Snag: The writer and star of the film franchise explained how the new project can’t start shooting because, as an independent film, it can’t get insurance amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Bonafide hit: Vardalos and John Corbett turned out to be a perfect pairing when they starred in My Big Fat Greek Wedding in 2002
There’s also additional costs of the compliance protocols, including officers, testing, and equipment, that have contributed to increased budgets.
Vardalos encouraged her 127,000 Instagram fans and followers who know ‘somebody who wants to insure an independent film’ to notify her on her DMs and that they are ‘cordially invited to this wedding.’
After explaining how she understands the seriousness of the virus, and its impact around the world, Vardalos shared how the film could play a small role in getting people back to work.
She proceeded to show off her comedic touch by adding, ‘I just wanted to explain this to you so that you, perhaps some of you, although I love your enthusiasm, can stop calling my mom’s house and asking if you can be in it. Yes everyone can be in it — if we can just get the insurance.’
The actress and screenwriter signed off with a Greek goodbye, which translated to ‘When we get film insurance, we are going to Greece to film.’
Massive! The original film grossed $368.7 million at the box office on just a $5 million budget
Sequel: Vardalos also wrote and starred in the 2016 sequel — My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
Along with Vardalos, the original 2020 film — My Big Fat Greek Wedding — starred John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Gia Carides, Louis Mandylor, Andrea Martin and Joey Fatone.
It turned out to be a surprise hit, grossing $368.7 million at the box office on just a $5 million budget.
Vardalos played Fotoula ‘Toula’ Portokalos, a young woman who’s part of a large, loud, and intrusive Greek family that only wants her to get married and have children.
Toula shocks many in her family, including her animated father, when she begins to date and eventually marry Ian Miller, a handsome White Anglo-Saxon Protestant man.
Vardalos also wrote and starred in the 2016 sequel — My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, which did not have the success as the original but still earned $90.6 million worldwide against a $18 million budget.
Moneymaker: The first sequel did not have the success of the original film but it still earned $90.6 million worldwide against a $18 million budget