16 Behind-the-Scenes Bridesmaids Bombshells You’ve Never Heard Before

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For those still hoping for a Bridemaids sequel, we wouldn’t recommend holding on for one more day. 

Ever since Kristen Wiig and her longtime friend and comedy partner Annie Mumolo unleashed their hilariously risqué romantic comedy they co-wrote on May 13, 2011, it has been evident that they weren’t committed to a sequel.

Eight months following our film’s triumph at the box office, I unequivocally told The Hollywood Reporter that Annie and I aren’t working on a sequel. It seemed a debate about whether women truly possess humor had been ignited, unbeknownst to us. After dedicating over five years to this project, we were eager for new creative ventures. To clarify, I’m currently engaged in writing something entirely different.

It turned out that movie was “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar,” which came out in February 2021 and received many positive reviews. The film sparked renewed calls for the cast of “Bridesmaids” to reunite again.

And after 10 years to think about it, Wiig’s answer was a resounding…no thank you. 

During a Town Hall discussion at SiriusXM with Mumolo and co-star Jamie Dornan, Wiig mentioned to Andy Cohen that they had different plans brewing, and they weren’t keen on revisiting the idea of penning another installment. In simpler terms, she expressed that they weren’t particularly eager to write a new one.

To be completely honest, throughout this journey, I’ve always felt that the legendary comedian, formerly of Saturday Night Live, harbored concerns about a potential misconception his actions might have created.

She clarified, “I don’t want the sentiment to come across negatively, since we genuinely adore the film. To be clear, when we said ‘we wanted to move on,’ it was more about us being eager to explore new projects rather than distancing ourselves from Bridesmaids, which remains dear to our hearts.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share my excitement about the movie that catapulted an unsuspecting Australian star, Rebel Wilson, and the hilariously talented Melissa McCarthy, who was once beloved as Sookie from Gilmore Girls, onto the global stage. This film, which raked in close to $300 million worldwide, is a testament to their comedic prowess.

A multitude of people flocked to join the hilarity shared by Lillian, portrayed by Milwaukee-born comedian Maya Rudolph, and her entourage. This close-knit group consisted of Lillian’s spiraling best friend Annie (Wiig), elegantly composed Helen (Rose Byrne), greenhorn newlywed Becca (Ellie Kemper), disenchanted housewife Rita (Wendi McLendon-Covey), and future in-law Megan, known for her colorful language (McCarthy).

Up for a Best Picture Golden Globe, it also garnered recognition at the Oscars for screenwriters Wiig and Mumolo, actress McCarthy in the supporting category, and sparked renewed enthusiasm for ’90s pop group Wilson Phillips. Their unexpected appearance at Lillian’s wedding provided a delightfully cheesy dance-filled ending.

Even though it appears slim that a sequel is on the horizon after a decade, I, an ardent fan, am still as Annie would exclaim, “more than ready to party!” So, save up for that flight ticket, because we’re about to reminisce in grand fashion, embarking on a nostalgic journey.

Film producers hesitated on Bridesmaids for over five years before it was finally greenlit, as revealed by screenwriters Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo. The initial script reading occurred in 2007, which was when producer Judd Apatow contacted director Paul Feig. According to Feig, he often gathers trusted individuals together for a table read so that writers can assess the script’s effectiveness and make necessary adjustments based on their feedback.

Wendi McLendon-Covey and Melissa McCarthy were both present during the first reading session. However, Melissa McCarthy shared with the magazine that she did not audition for the role of Megan, and the script we eventually saw was quite different from the one initially written.

Three years later, when the project eventually progressed, McLendon-Covey, who had worked with Wiig and Mumolo at The Groundlings in L.A., expressed her astonishment, saying, “I was taken aback.

2. Due to delays in production, Wiig was set to play the maid of honor Annie, but unfortunately Mumolo had to decline her role as one of the main bridesmaids because it clashed with schedule.

Mumolo told The New York Times in a joint interview with Wiig in February 2021 that the movie’s production process had them constantly starting and stopping for multiple years. “I was living my life, even having a family,” Mumolo said. “So I got pregnant. We were put on hold for a while, but they called back two weeks later saying we’re back on track! And it turned out that I was already pregnant, which made things even more exciting.

During the filming, Mumolo was already seven months pregnant, and she gave birth just over a week after wrapping up the project. She couldn’t take on that role, so they reworked it and recast it instead. However, they did manage to incorporate Mumolo into the story by having her sit next to Wiig during their turbulent flight to Las Vegas in another part of the film.

3. Initially, both Rose Byrne and Mindy Kaling tried out for the role of Lillian, the bride, but it was Maya Rudolph, a fellow member of The Groundlings and SNL alum, who seemed most fitting for the part, eventually securing it as Annie’s well-off rival, Helen.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rudolph shared that Kristen and he were genuine friends. He mentioned that during the casting process, they had a chemistry reading together which made it evident to him that their on-screen relationship needed to be authentic. As a result, director Feig stated that there was no need for extensive exposition about their characters’ past since it seemed like they had been friends for a long time already.

4. For the six leading roles in the film, numerous actresses were approached, however, it was Megan’s part, characterized as sex-crazed and profane, that drew a multitude of applicants, according to Feig in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. One of the contenders was Rebel Wilson, who admitted during an appearance on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show in March 2021, that she had been the second choice for the role. (A “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” joke could be made here.)

Initially, she mentioned, “It seems they appreciated my audition and included me in the movie.” As a result, the character of Brynn, Annie’s second flatmate, was created. Wilson clarified that the producers had originally planned for only one roommate, but their idea evolved into her and Matt Lucas’ brother-sister duo. In essence, she subtly inserted herself into the scenes.

5. Not only did Wilson secure her first American film role for a modest $3,500, she also discovered a suitable residence. She and her new friend Lucas shared a home in West Hollywood, as she confessed to Conan O’Brien in 2012, so instead of bothering Kristen Wiig, we were now disturbing all the neighbors in the vicinity.

6. Wilson found Feig incredibly impressive, but it was McCarthy who left him utterly astonished. He explained to Glamour last year, “We had met numerous candidates for Megan; it wasn’t until Kristen and Annie suggested, ‘You must meet our friend Melissa,’ that a unique perspective on the character emerged. It took me about 10 seconds to fully grasp what she was doing.

In that moment, he found himself puzzled by her performance, and it reminded him of an interview with GQ in 2011, where he said, “At first I thought, ‘Is she portraying a lesbian?’ Then it turned into some strange sexual connotations.

It didn’t take long for him to recognize he was witnessing a prodigy at work: “One common mistake in casting is becoming so fixated on the written words and character that one fails to see when someone surpasses what’s on the script.” Later, McCarthy confessed she had initially worried she might have gone too far. However, in retrospect, she was in the dark about this.

She shared with GQ that she admires women who are genuine and confident in their own skin, as seen by their short haircuts. When you see them together, you might think they’re partners, but upon conversation, they’ll discuss their husbands and large families. This type of person really resonates with her. However, after an audition, she found herself questioning if she had been too unconventional, contemplating whether she should return to attempt the “clichéd actor move” of asking for a second chance.

7. After securing the role, McCarthy came up with an intriguing idea for her character’s physical appearance. As McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone are big fans of Guy Fieri’s show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” on Food Network, Melissa reportedly wanted Megan to resemble him, as revealed by Byrne to GQ magazine.

Despite managing to don golf shorts, comfort sandals, and awkward culottes, McCarthy shared that she desired a short, spiky white wig similar to Guy Fieri’s style. However, the magazine staff responded by saying, “You can’t genuinely be Guy Fieri,” she recounted. Despite her attempts to sport oversized white Oakley sunglasses on the back of her head like he does, they were unable to find them for her wardrobe.

8. The improvisation soared to new heights with a troupe of six former Groundlings members (Wiig, Mumolo, Rudolph, McLendon-Covey, McCarthy, and Falcone) on stage.

During rehearsals, McCarthy explained to Entertainment Weekly, it was crucial to familiarize yourself with everyone’s characters before filming began. While not all details were necessarily used, a background story was developed. This shared history among the characters helped us feel more comfortable and confident in our interactions. I recall thinking, ‘If this is what movie-making entails, it’s simply incredible!’

Speaking candidly, I can no longer tell what parts were rehearsed versus spontaneous during our performances, said Rudolph. As we began filming, everyone understood the creative dynamic: Show up, review the scenes, then let your imagination run wild. There was a typist present, capturing every improvised moment on paper. Later, new scripts would appear.

9. One of the most amusing scenes to film was Lillian’s engagement party, where Annie and Helen competitively displayed their designer outfits for the first time. As Paul continued to let Kristen and Rose outdo each other during the speeches, it turned into an impromptu imitation of “The Gong Show,” McLendon-Covey shared with Entertainment Weekly. This took place as Byrne improvised Thai lines, which were later replaced with actual Thai phrases. “One person would take the microphone from another, and that’s when I laughed the most on set.

Absolutely, “McCarthy agreed, ‘The film never ended! I couldn’t stop laughing. At one point, I thought to myself, ‘This is going to be a challenge not to spoil any scenes during the filming.’

10. To kick off the movie in a dramatic fashion, director Feig decided to film what he disliked most: transforming a romantic scene between Wiig and her on-screen partner Jon Hamm into an exhilarating action scene.

Jon Hamm and Kristen make us laugh so much that instead of viewing their scene as a romantic one, we saw it more as a brawl,” he explained to Glamour. “It was like a high-energy wrestling match on set, with the camera constantly moving, calling out ‘Next move! Next move!’ It felt like shooting an action sequence. The scene had no romantic undertones at all, and that’s what made it so enjoyable.

As a lifestyle expert, I can confidently share that Feig found the artificial vomit used in the notorious food poisoning incident at the bridal salon scene to be surprisingly delicious, according to his words in an interview with Glamour magazine.

He stated, “It’s a mix, let me see… It contains oatmeal to add some bite, along with diced veggies. I’m struggling to recall right now, but I believe I have images saved somewhere showing them preparing enormous batches that resemble smoothies.

As a devoted follower, I’d like to share that despite the delightful metaphors, the procedure is quite simple: “In essence, you bring a cup and say ‘Here you go!’ Then, they take it into their mouth and release it.

12. Due to “The Hangover” being released in 2009 during production, what was intended to unfold in Las Vegas ended up getting cut out from the final film version.

Feig decided that a repeat wasn’t necessary since the previous Vegas event was so grand and prosperous. He explained this to Glamour, considering abandoning the chaotic bachelorette party in Las Vegas. His thought was, “Why go through it again? Let’s just prevent them from reaching Vegas. The whole thing should unravel on the plane itself.

13. However, what transpired was described as “funnier than anything we could have done in Vegas” by Feig to EW. With Wiig preoccupied with commitments for Saturday Night Live, Mumolo took charge and wrote a 16-page scene teeming with some of the film’s most iconic one-liners. (Imagine: “Help me, I’m broke,” “Whatever you say, Stove,” and, inevitably, “I’m ready to party.”)

When Feig reached the line where Wiig said, “There’s a colonial woman on the wing,” he shared that he laughed heartily because he appreciates anything that’s absurd yet still makes sense to someone. He went on to say, “That’s just a testament to the extraordinary creativity of Annie Mumolo.

14a. One quip didn’t quite fit, as McCarthy and her husband, Air Marshall Jon (Falcone), found themselves caught up in their playful banter. “There was one jest – I can’t recall the specifics now. The sequence had to be followed for the humor to work,” shared McCarthy with Entertainment Weekly. “Whenever I reached a certain stage, Ben would start chuckling, and we couldn’t manage it.

As a die-hard admirer, I can still vividly recall the moment we both failed to connect on that exchange. You had one foot in the doorway and asked, “Do you like this foot of mine?” I responded with uncertainty, saying, “I don’t know.” To which you replied, “Well, I’ve got another one just like it. I can even reach back above my head to comb my own hair.” And then, in a move that left me astonished, you attempted to use your foot to actually comb your hair! That was the moment everything fell apart – it was all over for me.

15. Some additional scenes missing from the over two-hour comedy included: McCarthy’s improvised joke about a squirrel problem that resulted in one of the rodents digging into her, an incident she found hilarious but couldn’t include in the film; a party scene where they tossed an elderly woman in the air and caught her with a blanket (apparently, someone had experienced this); and a blind date between Paul Rudd and Wiig’s character Annie that didn’t make it into the final cut.

16. Filming was just as enjoyable as one might imagine. As shared with InStyle back in 2013, Kristen Wiig once rented a bus for the female cast and crew to tour Los Angeles. The adventure led them to a male strip club on Hollywood Boulevard, where they received lap dances. It was an unforgettable experience! (For those experiencing similar excitement, Wilson posted some photos on Instagram in 2019.)

After completion, McLendon-Covey shared with Entertainment Weekly that she shed tears. It was an enjoyable journey for her. She didn’t wish it to conclude. She adored those girls.

Ellie Kemper found the entire production process reminiscent of summer camp, as it seemed like they were creating a film with close friends. While it’s possible to form a significant connection with men, the camaraderie between women in this project felt exceptionally unique and potent.

Watch Bridesmaids any time online here!

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2025-05-13 10:20