Gil Junger confirms ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ sequel; will pay homage to Heath Ledger

Gil Junger, director of the beloved 1999 romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You, has revealed in an interview with People magazine that a sequel is officially in development. The director revealed that he will reunite with producer Andrew Lazar and bring on board writer Naya Elle James to pen the franchise the next instalment, tentatively titled 10 Things I Hate About Dating, followed by 10 Things I Hate About Marriage and 10 Things I Hate About Kids.

The first film was a modern re-telling of William Shakespeare’s 16th century comedy The Taming of the Shrew. Similarly, 10 Things I Hate About Dating is inspired by Moliẻre’s 1666 play The Misanthrope.

Junger said that he would “love” to cast some of the original cast members, despite the tragic loss of the film’s lead, Heath Ledger, who breathed his last in 2008 due to combined drug intoxication. When asked if the new sequel will be a tribute to him, the director confirmed his plans to include a tribute to the late star in the sequel. He also hopes to rope in Julia Stiles, who portrayed Ledger’s love interest Kat Stratford in the original flick. "She shaped the lives of millions of women. That Kat character really spoke to young women in a very powerful way," he said. 

10 Things I Hate About You follows Kat, a sarcastic high-achieving teen who is constantly compared to her popular sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) by their overprotective single dad. Kat’s world is turned upside down when she meets a new student, Patrick Verona (Ledger).

A Broadway adaptation of 10 Things I Hate About You is also underway, composed by Carly Rae Jepsen and Ethan Gruska. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the musical will be a collaborative production between Buena Vista Theatrical and Mike Bosner.

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