Jessica Chastain Teases Fans With Plans for an Explosive 'The Help' Sequel

Summary

Jessica Chastain expresses interest in a sequel to The Help, wanting to explore the relationship between her character Celia and Octavia Spencer's Minny further.

The Help has received criticism for its portrayal of a white savior and for simplifying complex issues, leading some actors to express remorse for their participation. Although Chastain may consider revisiting her role, creating a sequel to The Help would be ill-advised, as it may perpetuate the problematic aspects of the original narrative.

Jessica Chastain is interested in creating a sequel to The Help, the Oscar-nominated film from 2011 based on Kathryn Stockett's novel set in 1963 Mississippi. The narrative revolves around a white journalist named Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan (portrayed by Emma Stone), who conducts interviews and writes a book about Black women who dedicated their lives to serving wealthy white families. The story primarily focuses on Aibileen Clark (played by Viola Davis) and Minerva "Minny" Jackson (played by Octavia Spencer), but it also highlights the character of Celia Foote (Chastain), who faces rejection from the other white housewives.

In a recent interview on EW's Awardist podcast, Chastain expressed her desire to reprise her role as Celia in a potential sequel to The Help. She discussed the aspects of playing Celia that she enjoyed, explained her motivation to revisit the character, and described how a continuation of the story could delve deeper into Celia's relationship with Minny. You can read Chastain's comments below.

I constantly think about someone whom I wish to portray once again - Celia Foote. I yearn to delve into the dynamics between Celia and Minny and witness the outcomes. Their friendship grew to the extent that they lived together, raising a child as a team. Can you imagine the incredible potential of that film? I developed a genuine love for Celia and had the opportunity to portray her in a somewhat silly manner.

Many of the characters I have portrayed have allowed me to explore various facets. However, with Celia, I feel that there is so much more to uncover. Despite being a supporting role in that particular story, I fully embraced the character. Regrettably, there wasn't much opportunity to deeply explore her story. She is a character that I long to revisit.

Why A Sequel To The Help Is A Bad Idea

The Help initially received mostly positive feedback, but its reputation changed over time and became more negative and complex. Critics heavily criticize the movie for its portrayal of a white savior. Despite focusing on Black women, the story is mostly presented from the perspective of a white character named Skeeter, who uses her interviews and writing to assist Aibileen, Minny, and other Black characters. The issue is compounded by the fact that the narrative was predominantly controlled by white individuals, including the author of the original novel, Stockett, and the director of the film adaptation, Tate Taylor.

Some actors from the movie have expressed a similar sentiment, including Davis, who regrets her role in The Help. Davis mentioned feeling like she betrayed herself and her community by participating in a film that was not fully prepared to confront the truth. She also stated that the movie aimed to define the Black experience, but ultimately catered to a white audience. Davis' statements highlight how The Help's oversimplification of difficult realities and its white savior narrative have not aged well.

The unlikely friendship between Celia and Minny in The Help lacked the necessary depth to fully explore its potential. Trying to address this in a sequel may actually worsen the situation. Chastain's suggestion for a cheerful film depicting Minny and Celia co-parenting Celia's child seems to prolong the problematic aspects of the original narrative. While Chastain might desire to reprise her role as Celia, revisiting The Help through a sequel appears to be a highly ill-advised notion.