Guy Pearce Signals 2028 Release Target for Long-Awaited 'Priscilla' Sequel
Photo Credit: MGM
by Chris Tremblay Aug 28
3 MIN READ
Guy Pearce has indicated that a sequel to The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert could be filmed in 2027 and released in 2028, providing the clearest recent timetable for the long-discussed project.
Speaking during a recent promotional appearance, Pearce described the dates as a projection rather than a confirmed production schedule. “We’ll probably shoot it ’27. It’ll come out ’28,” Pearce said while discussing the sequel.
The actor has also said that the film is not yet fully ready to enter production, citing the need to raise money and finalize the screenplay. Those conditions mean that a 2028 release remains a target rather than an announced release date.
The update was reported in August by the Star Observer Digital Spy and Australian Women’s Weekly, which each connected Pearce’s remarks to the continuing development of the sequel.
The original Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was released in 1994 and was written and directed by Stephan Elliott. The film follows three performers travelling across the Australian Outback in a bus named Priscilla.
The central characters are Bernadette Bassenger, a transgender woman played by Terence Stamp, and drag performers Adam Whitely, played by Pearce, and Anthony “Tick” Belrose, played by Weaving. The film became internationally recognized for its combination of road-movie storytelling, comedy, music and drag performance.
The movie has also remained significant within LGBTQ+ popular culture because it placed queer characters and drag performers at the center of a commercially visible Australian film. Its ongoing cultural reach has included stage adaptations and continued screenings, although those developments are separate from the proposed film sequel.
Elliott announced in 2024 that he was developing a sequel and expected to return as its writer, director and producer. At that time, Elliott said the original principal cast members were attached to return, including Stamp, Weaving and Pearce. Variety likewise reported that the project was seeking a production partner and financial backing.
The current reporting indicates that financing remains an unresolved part of the project. Pearce’s comments also suggest that the screenplay is still being finalized, despite earlier reports that Elliott had completed a script.
That difference may reflect changes made during development, but the sources do not establish why the script is still described as unfinished. The project’s final title, production company, budget, distributor and confirmed release date have not been reported in the recent coverage reviewed for this article.
While Stamp, who played Bernadette in the original film, passed away at age 87 in August 2025, his participation in the sequel has been definitively confirmed. Following his death, director Stephan Elliott revealed to Deadline that Stamp spent the final months of his life pre-filming all of his scenes as Bernadette.The actor was initially hesitant about a sequel but agreed after receiving assurances about the script's direction. To protect the integrity of the performance and avoid the use of digital or AI clones, Stamp worked with Elliott to completely capture his character's material on camera before his passing.As a result, Bernadette will appear in the film through newly captured, authentic footage rather than archival clips or special effects, making the sequel Stamp's final screen role. This pre-filmed contribution preserves the core dynamic of the original trio alongside surviving leads Weaving and Pearce.
The proposed sequel would revisit a film that has maintained a prominent place in queer cinema and Australian screen culture for more than three decades. The original movie’s focus on a transgender woman and two drag performers helped make its characters recognizable to audiences well beyond Australia.
The new update is notable because it comes from Pearce, rather than only from an earlier statement by Elliott. His comments provide a possible production window while simultaneously making clear that the project still depends on practical steps behind the scenes.
For now, the most supportable conclusion is that the sequel remains in development, with Pearce expecting a possible 2027 shoot and 2028 release. No production start, completed financing package or locked release date has been publicly confirmed by the sources cited here.
The actor has also said that the film is not yet fully ready to enter production, citing the need to raise money and finalize the screenplay. Those conditions mean that a 2028 release remains a target rather than an announced release date.
The update was reported in August by the Star Observer Digital Spy and Australian Women’s Weekly, which each connected Pearce’s remarks to the continuing development of the sequel.
A Sequel More Than 30 Years in the Making
The original Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was released in 1994 and was written and directed by Stephan Elliott. The film follows three performers travelling across the Australian Outback in a bus named Priscilla.
The central characters are Bernadette Bassenger, a transgender woman played by Terence Stamp, and drag performers Adam Whitely, played by Pearce, and Anthony “Tick” Belrose, played by Weaving. The film became internationally recognized for its combination of road-movie storytelling, comedy, music and drag performance.
The movie has also remained significant within LGBTQ+ popular culture because it placed queer characters and drag performers at the center of a commercially visible Australian film. Its ongoing cultural reach has included stage adaptations and continued screenings, although those developments are separate from the proposed film sequel.
What Is Known About the Follow-Up
Elliott announced in 2024 that he was developing a sequel and expected to return as its writer, director and producer. At that time, Elliott said the original principal cast members were attached to return, including Stamp, Weaving and Pearce. Variety likewise reported that the project was seeking a production partner and financial backing.
The current reporting indicates that financing remains an unresolved part of the project. Pearce’s comments also suggest that the screenplay is still being finalized, despite earlier reports that Elliott had completed a script.
That difference may reflect changes made during development, but the sources do not establish why the script is still described as unfinished. The project’s final title, production company, budget, distributor and confirmed release date have not been reported in the recent coverage reviewed for this article.
The Question of Terence Stamp’s Involvement
While Stamp, who played Bernadette in the original film, passed away at age 87 in August 2025, his participation in the sequel has been definitively confirmed. Following his death, director Stephan Elliott revealed to Deadline that Stamp spent the final months of his life pre-filming all of his scenes as Bernadette.The actor was initially hesitant about a sequel but agreed after receiving assurances about the script's direction. To protect the integrity of the performance and avoid the use of digital or AI clones, Stamp worked with Elliott to completely capture his character's material on camera before his passing.As a result, Bernadette will appear in the film through newly captured, authentic footage rather than archival clips or special effects, making the sequel Stamp's final screen role. This pre-filmed contribution preserves the core dynamic of the original trio alongside surviving leads Weaving and Pearce.
Why the Update Matters
The proposed sequel would revisit a film that has maintained a prominent place in queer cinema and Australian screen culture for more than three decades. The original movie’s focus on a transgender woman and two drag performers helped make its characters recognizable to audiences well beyond Australia.
The new update is notable because it comes from Pearce, rather than only from an earlier statement by Elliott. His comments provide a possible production window while simultaneously making clear that the project still depends on practical steps behind the scenes.
For now, the most supportable conclusion is that the sequel remains in development, with Pearce expecting a possible 2027 shoot and 2028 release. No production start, completed financing package or locked release date has been publicly confirmed by the sources cited here.
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