While not a mega-hit, Gnomeo and Juliet managed to make over $190 million at cinemas around the world the world last year, and so now Deadline reports Elton John’s Rocket Pictures has started working on a sequel, which will feature new music by the famed singer.
Original writers Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil are currently working on the sequel script, which is currently titled Gnomeo and Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes. James McAvoy and Emily Blunt are expected to reprise their roles voicing the title characters, but no deals have been made yet.
The follow-up sees Gnomeo and Juliet hiring ‘the greatest ornamental detective,’ Sherlock Gnomes, when gnomes start disappearing from their lawns. Executive producer Steve Hamilton Shaw commented, “Action detective stories need some gnomes to liven them up, I’m sure Arthur Conan Doyle would agree. It will be a fun, broad family film building on the popular foundation of the first. We believe the wide appeal of our world and characters combined with strong musical elements create a terrific franchise opportunity.”
Production is slated to begin this fall, but no release date is currently set.