Nearly three decades after Matilda became a family classic, Mara Wilson says she’s open to returning for a sequel—but believes any continuation would need to stay true to what made the beloved character so special, says Deadline.
Speaking during an appearance at Fanboy Expo in Tennessee, the actress, who starred as the gifted young heroine in Danny DeVito’s 1996 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel, addressed the long-running fan demand for Matilda 2.
“People always ask me about doing a Matilda 2. And that could be possible,” Wilson said.
However, she admitted she has reservations about one of the most popular sequel ideas—making Matilda a mother.
“People always say, ‘Maybe it could be Matilda’s daughter.’ And I have some issues with that,” she explained.
Wilson believes Matilda’s extraordinary telekinetic powers were deeply connected to the hardships she endured as a neglected child.
“I think Matilda’s powers come from her adversity. They come from the bad things that she went through,” she said.
“The whole point is that she overcame these things. She found power in educating herself and making friends with people who were really lovely.”
Because of that, Wilson doesn’t believe Matilda would raise a child in circumstances that would lead to similar abilities.
“I don’t think Matilda would raise her daughter to be in a position where she developed those powers to protect herself,” she added.
The actress also joked that imagining Matilda’s future family life is no easy task.
“Who’s good enough for Matilda? Matilda’s such an awesome character that I can’t imagine who she would marry and have kids with.”
Wilson also reflected on how closely audiences still associate her with the iconic role. She admitted that, as a child, she didn’t always appreciate being called “Matilda.”
“I used to be a little annoyed when people would call me Matilda because I was like, ‘No, I’m Mara,'” she recalled, comparing it to being mistaken for “your much cooler, smarter sister.”
Over time, however, her feelings have changed.
Referencing the late Carrie Fisher’s famous comments about becoming inseparable from Princess Leia, Wilson said she now feels she and Matilda have grown together.
“I feel like Matilda has been a character that I looked up to,” she said. “She would talk about mental health. She would talk about books. She would be writing, loving books and doing stuff for public libraries. I do all of those things.”
“So Matilda has really taught me a lot of good lessons,” Wilson added. “I think I’ve become a lot like her in my own way.”
Released in 1996, Matilda remains one of the most beloved family films of its era, and Wilson’s comments are likely to reignite fan speculation about whether the magical story could one day return to the big screen.
