Mara Wilson Says ‘Matilda’ Sequel “Could Be Possible” & Why It “Annoyed” Her Being Linked To Film
Mara Wilson, who played the title role in the 1996 film "Matilda", has said a sequel to the beloved family film "could be possible", though she remains unsure how it would work in practice. Speaking at Fanboy Expo in Tennessee, she pushed back on a popular fan idea for a follow-up, and separately reflected on how her early career was overshadowed by the character. Given the film's enduring popularity, her comments will interest fans who have long speculated about a continuation.
Wilson dismissed the suggestion that a sequel centre on Matilda's daughter, arguing that Matilda's powers stemmed from the adversity she overcame as a child, so it would not make sense for her to raise a daughter under similar circumstances. She also joked she could not imagine who would be "good enough" to marry Matilda. Wilson, who also starred in "Mrs Doubtfire" and "Miracle on 34th Street" before "Matilda", admitted she once found it "annoying" being called by her character's name rather than her own, likening it to being overshadowed by a "cooler, smarter sister" — though she now says she has grown to embody many of Matilda's traits, such as her love of books, writing and mental health advocacy.
- Mara Wilson says a "Matilda" sequel "could be possible" but is unresolved
- She rejects the idea of a sequel centred on Matilda's daughter
- Wilson recalls once resenting being called "Matilda" instead of her own name
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Mara Wilson was the child actress who played the title role in Matilda, the 1996 film adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel about a gifted young girl who uses telekinetic powers to stand up to her neglectful family and a tyrannical headmistress. The film has remained a favourite with audiences for decades, which has kept alive periodic speculation among fans about a possible sequel or follow-up story.
Wilson's acting career began before Matilda, with roles in films such as Mrs Doubtfire and Miracle on 34th Street, but the character of Matilda became by far the role she is best known for. Since stepping back from acting, she has become known instead as a writer and mental health advocate, and has spoken publicly in the past about the pressures of being a child star closely identified with a single character.
Her comments were made at Fanboy Expo, a fan convention held in Tennessee where actors often appear for panels and public Q&A sessions with fans. Such events regularly generate news coverage when guests share personal reflections or opinions on their famous roles, which is the context for her recent remarks.