Disney Says a ‘Sister Act’ Reboot Is in the Works, and Whoopi Goldberg Wants to Direct
In 1992 and 1993, comedian Whoopi Goldberg starred in the surprise hit musical comedy Sister Act and its less successful sequel Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, in which she played Deloris, a Reno nightclub singer who witnesses a mafia murder and must masquerade as a nun. As a “sister,” she helps revitalize an inner-city church through spirited rock-n-roll choir arrangements. While the first film was later turned into a 2006 musical of the same name, Goldberg recently revealed that Disney is actually working on a Sister Act reboot. The only drawback: Goldberg’s role in it may amount to a mere cameo.
In an interview with Good Morning Britain, Goldberg said, “We’ve been all over Disney begging. They’ve decided that they’re going to go in a different direction with Sister Act. So it won’t be Sister Act 3, it will be a brand-new rendition of Sister Act, and I guess I’ll walk through a scene and that’s how they’ll say I was part of it.”
Rumors of a Sister Act reboot began circulating in 2015 with Alli Shearmur named as its producer, but this is the first time we’ve heard any real details about the film since.
Goldberg added, “I don’t know that I would be Deloris, which is OK, because it’s time for someone [else] to do it. But it’s such a fun piece that I’m hoping someone will do it. Maybe I’ll direct it.”
It makes sense that the now-62-year-old comedian wouldn’t star in the Sister Act reboot’s lead role since, well, then it wouldn’t really be a reboot. A younger star would also help Disney create a new generation of interest in the franchise.
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And seeing as the original film’s soundtrack went golden, a younger star could help cement a successful soundtrack for the Sister Act reboot. Sister Act 2, for example, helped further the musical career of Lauryn Hill, who played a troubled but talented teen in the sequel.
If Goldberg directs the Sister Act reboot, it’ll be her third-ever time to direct. She has much more experience producing TV series, so directing would be a leap for her.
At the very least, we think Disney should keep Deloris as a black character in the Sister Act reboot. The film was originally written with gay musical icon Bette Midler in mind as the lead. Goldberg only stepped in when Midler declined the role, saying, “My fans don’t want to see me in a wimple.”
