Crazy excited for the ‘Welcome to the Dollhouse’ semi-sequel

Indie films deserve sequels just as much as big blockbusters. So now, after 20 years away, cult classic Welcome to the Dollhouse is coming back… sort of. Its main character, Dawn Wiener, is coming back, even though she died at the beginning of another sort-of sequel to Welcome to the Dollhouse. However, that’s just director Todd Solondz’s style, and we are totally on-board for his newest movie, Weiner-Dog – which is YES, going to revolve around a dog.

For those who need a quick rewind on Welcome to the Dollhouse, it stars a little Heather Matarazzo (Lilly in The Princess Diaries) as Dawn Weiner,  7th grader trying desperately to find a place in the world. She managed to find a place in our hearts, though, even though everyone else seemed to overlook her, and that includes her family. It’s about time we checked back in with Dawn, to see what she’s up to in life (and if her amazing fashion style has stayed the same).

Well, except that at the start of Solondz’s 2004 film, Palindromes, we get a glimpse of Dawn’s funeral. Not worries about that right now, it appears as if Solondz is playing with stories and timelines for his latest anthology film, Weiner-Dog. It will tell “several stories featuring people who find their life inspired or changed by one particular dachshund, who seems to be spreading comfort and joy.” And one of these people who comes across the pup is Dawn, who back in middle school actually had the nickname, “weiner dog.” 7th graders are so clever.

This is all good stuff to get excited over, but sadly Matarazzo will not be reprising the role. Instead, that duty falls on the shoulders of Greta Gerwig who now becomes adult Dawn. Along with her in the movie will be Julie Delpy, Kieran Culkin, Danny DeVito, Brie Larson, Ellen Burstyn, and Zosia Mamet. It’s filming right now in New York City, so hopefully we’ll get to check out this traveling dog and the lives he touches soon.

(Image via here.)