BILL & TED 3 Update: Filming May Start Early Next Year

We have been been getting periodic updates about a possible third Bill And Ted film for some time now, with the project slowly inching its way along. There is a script in hand from original screenwriters Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon and Galaxy Quest helmer Dean Parisot has been hired to direct. Bill and Ted themselves, Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, are keen to return. But whatever it is that is behind-the-scenes that is keeping the film from getting front of cameras, it has only slowed the project, not derailed it.

Speaking with Forbes about his upcoming, crowdfunded documentary about music icon Frank Zappa, Winter revealed that filming may begin on the long in development film by early next year.

It’s the 25th anniversary of Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey this year and it sounds like the threequel is still going ahead?

AW: It’s looking good. This is Hollywood so I don’t believe it’s happening until it’s coming out on VOD but we’re all working on the film everyday at the moment in terms of the pre-prep type work so it’s an active project. Hopefully we’ll be shooting it shortly.

Are you looking at a start date of end of this year or early next year?

AW: Hopefully the former, possibly the latter.

So you’re on board and Keanu’s also on board?

AW: How the **** would we make it if he wasn’t on board? People always ask if Keanu’s doing it and I’m like, ‘No, I’m making a Bill movie.’ Of course he’s in it. I can’t make a Bill & Ted movie without Keanu.

Have you seen a final script?

AW: Of course! We’ve been working on it for, like, six years. We’re knee deep in the script, it’s been written by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon who wrote the first two, they are fantastic writers, and the script is great. We have a script, we have a director, we have a studio – we’re just trying to nail down a start date.

What about co-stars? Is there a wish list?

AW: The short answer is yes. I can’t really go further than that other than to say some people are going to returning from the original by the fact that they’re in it. There will be new people because obviously, sadly, Rufus (George Carlin) isn’t around anymore and they will be interesting actors too.

I know that I should be leery of a sequel to a beloved comedy classic coming along years later following the rather disappointing Anchorman 2 and Zoolander 2. Twice bitten, surely the third time I should be shy. Here’s hoping instead that third times the charm.