Will the ‘Before’ Trilogy Return? Ethan Hawke Weighs In

Whenever we talk about some of the great film series of all time, one name instantly comes to mind: the “Before” trilogy. Started in 1995, the trilogy chronicled the journey of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy), and how their relationship evolved over the span of two decades. Since its conclusion in 2010, fans have been demanding that the makers and the stars revive the franchise with another installment. Even though Hawke feels that the “Before” series is done and dusted, he thinks that the series can move forward by showing a new perspective.

Speaking at Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast, the 54-year-old actor opened up about the possibility of another “Before” movie and how it would not make sense for the trilogy to return. Hawke said, “The answer I usually give is that the three films feel complete. The first one begins with us on a train listening to a couple in their mid-40s fighting, and in the third one, we’ve become that couple. The circle feels complete.”

However, he didn’t shy away from saying that the series has the potential to give another stellar story by coming forward with a fresh point of view. Despite making those comments, the ‘Black Phone 2’ star noted that he, Delpy, and Richard Linklater would have to be on the same page about the narrative’s direction.

“If we were to do another, it might not be a ‘Before’ film. It could be something new — maybe the “After” series. But part of what made those movies special is that Julie, Rick, and I were always in sync about what we wanted to say. That could happen again one day — it might start with one phone call or an email. But we don’t want to outlive our fan base,” said Hawke.

The “Before” trilogy went on to become one of the most beloved movie franchises of all time, garnering universal acclaim. The first movie, Before Sunrise, received an overwhelming response from the critics as well as audiences. Meanwhile, the next two films—’Before Sunset’ and ‘Before Midnight’—were equally successful, making the series one of the most emotionally resonant trilogies in modern cinema.

Hawke is right in saying that the story needs to be told in a new way now because the “Before” franchise ended on a perfect note. It doesn’t need to be revisited because it already captured the essence of the characters’ journey, and any attempt to continue it risks diminishing the magic of the original trilogy.

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