As announced yesterday, Love Actually director Richard Curtis is planning a short sequel to his 2003 hit movie for Red Nose Day, and pretty much all of the cast are returning. That includes Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Andrew Lincoln and Bill Nighy, as well as Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Sam), Lucia Moniz (Aurelia), Olivia Olson (Joanna), Marcus Brigstocke (Mikey), and Rowan Atkinson (Rufus).
It looks like shooting kicked off today too with pictures emerging from the set, most excitedly, of Liam Neeson and his on-screen son, the now 26-years-old Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Sam), who has since went on to a great career with roles in Game of Thrones and Maze Runner.
#rednosedayactually shoot. Day 1. Yum. pic.twitter.com/G7ihyTViw1
— emma freud (@emmafreud) February 16, 2017
There's even a shot of them recreating that famous bench scene...
So this just happened. #rednosedayactually day 1 of filming. Might have cried a tiny bit. pic.twitter.com/DQ3GxNSwLp
— emma freud (@emmafreud) February 16, 2017
Stop everything! #RedNoseDayActually update! Liam Neeson and Thomas Brodie-Sangster filming #LoveActually sequel for #rednoseday TODAY! pic.twitter.com/LWeGk22752
— Red Nose Day (@rednoseday) February 16, 2017
And hugs!
While here's a few more familiar faces that have been hanging out on set...
Yep that's the love of Sam's life, Joanna (Olivia Olson), alongside Richard Curits, all grown up.
Oh hello #rednosedayactually cast member looking slightly older than she did in the original film.... pic.twitter.com/6OY7SHP9dc
— emma freud (@emmafreud) February 16, 2017
And look, it's Karl! (Rodrigo Santoro) Please tell us Laura Linney gets the ride this time around?
Day 1 in the #rednosedayactually house. Coffee. Bacon sandwiches. Now on way to meet the cast... pic.twitter.com/SoelO6HX8P
— emma freud (@emmafreud) February 16, 2017
Speaking about the project, Richard Curtis said: "Over the years I've enjoyed doing Red Nose Day specials on TV things I've worked on - Blackadder, The Vicar of Dibley, and Mr Bean. It seemed like a fun idea this year to do a special sketch based on one of my films, since Red Nose Day is now in both the UK an America.
"I would never have dreamed of writing a sequel to Love Actually, but I thought it might be fun to do ten minutes to see what everyone is now up to."
Curtis continued: "We've been delighted and grateful that so many of the cast are around and able to take part - and it'll certainly be a nostalgic moment getting back together and recreating their characters 14 years later.
"We hope to make something that'll be fun - very much in the spirit of the original film and of Red Nose Day - and which we hope will help bring lots of viewers and cash to the Red Nose Day shows."
Catch the Love Actually sketch on Red Nose Day 2017 on Friday, March 24 on BBC One.