Some intriguing—and fantastic—news about a project we hadn’t realized could be Terence Stamp’s final work, and it’s a real showstopper.
Filmmaker Stephan Elliott has revealed to Deadline that Stamp, the celebrated British actor who passed away in August at 87, spent the final months of his life reprising his memorable role as Bernadette for the sequel to the 1994 cult classic “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.”
According to Elliott, Stamp was initially hesitant to return, but agreed after being assured that the follow-up would not simply repeat the original story. The first film, starring Stamp alongside Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving as a transgender woman and two drag queens traveling across the Australian desert in a flamboyantly decorated bus.
Elliott explains that plans for a sequel had been in discussion for decades, finally coming together just before COVID-19 disrupted production. The pandemic delayed work but allowed the team to focus on scripting, including careful consideration of how Stamp’s character, Bernadette, would appear in his 80s. Stamp insisted on performing the role himself rather than using a digital double, saying, “Just in case I don’t make the start line.”
To honor Stamp’s wishes, Elliott pre-shot all of Bernadette’s scenes using a nine-camera array over multiple rigorous sessions. Despite his age, Stamp threw himself into the role, enduring long hours in full makeup and costume. Elliott described the experience as both joyful and bittersweet, saying that calling “that’s a wrap” on Stamp would haunt him forever.
Following Stamp’s passing, Elliott says he has been “pretty devastated” and needs time to mourn before deciding how to proceed with the sequel. He emphasized that Stamp’s contribution was fully captured on film, ensuring the actor’s final performance is preserved, while acknowledging that integrating it into the completed movie will pose technical challenges.
The production team, including Pearce and Weaving, as well as acclaimed costume and makeup designers, are taking a pause to reassess the logistics of continuing. Elliott notes that the sequel will explore themes of aging and identity in ways the original did not, and promises a fresh and unusual story while keeping Bernadette’s presence intact.
Elliott concluded by reflecting on Stamp’s final wishes, noting that the actor did not want a traditional funeral but rather a “final curtain.” The director affirms that they are honoring this vision by bringing Stamp back to the screen one last time, giving audiences the opportunity to see the legendary actor embody Bernadette once more.
Edward Berger seems to have settled on what comes next. His Lance Armstrong biopic, starring Austin Butler, is now holding casting calls, with production eyed for January.