Love Actually fans from all around the world were overjoyed when director Richard Curtis announced he was making a sequel, a ten-minute special for Comic Relief. However, it was revealed that Emma Thompson will not be reprising her role as Karen, the betrayed wife of Harry, who was played by the late Alan Rickman. Speaking in a new interview with Press Association, Richard has confirmed the movie will not feature a tribute to the late star. He explained: "You know dealing with Alan is very complicated so not really."
© Photo: Getty ImagesLove Actually sequel won't pay tribute to the late Alan Rickman
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"We're not doing everyone" he added. "We're doing about two thirds of people." When asked whether Emma might make a surprise appearance, Richard remarked: "Ems isn't in it. She just can't do it." News of the special was announced last week with Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley and Colin Firth all confirmed to reprise their roles. "I would never have dreamt of writing a sequel to Love Actually, but I thought it might be fun to do ten minutes to see what everyone is now up to," said writer Richard in a statement.
© Photo: RexEmma Thompson will not be reprising her role as Karen, the betrayed wife of Harry
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Love Actually was released in 2003 and has gone on to become one of the most watched romantic Christmas films of all time. Richard recently revealed that most of stars had all jumped at the chance to take part. "Amazingly, nobody said no," he said during an appearance on Victoria Derbyshire. "Liam [Neeson] flew over yesterday from America and is going back to America tomorrow. There is a lot of affection for the film." The ten-minute movie, which will centre on what the characters are up to now in 2017, will be shown on 24 March on BBC One as part of the Red Nose Day appeal.
