We discuss whether there will be The Noel Diary 2, a sequel to the Netflix film The Noel Diary, that doesn’t contain spoilers.
The Noel Diary is a Christmas film on Netflix, a romantic comedy starring Justin Hartley as Jacob Turner and Barrett Doss as Rachel. The novel adaptation debuted on November 24, directed by Charles Shyer, and has so far received mixed reviews.
What is The Noel Diary about?
The Noel Diary is a romantic comedy film set at Christmastime. Romantic novelist Jacob Turner’s (Justin Hartley) mum dies, so he’s forced to return to his childhood home. Once he’s there, he finds a mysterious diary and meets Rachel (Barrett Doss), who’s looking for her birth mum. Together the pair uncover their past, mend old relationships, and along the way, discover their love for one another. Jacob also has a cute pet dog called Ava he brings along for the ride.
Is The Noel Diary based on a book?
The Noel Diary is an adaption of the book of the same name by Richard Paul Evans, first published in 2017. It’s the first book in his Noel Collection, which focuses on different people and their struggles at Christmas. The book is the first of four, with the others in the series being titled The Noel Stranger, Noel Street, and finally The Noel Letters. Each book focuses on a different set of characters, meaning the book series is an anthology of people’s experiences of finding love at Christmas.
What are the reviews saying about The Noel Diary?
The Noel Diary hasn’t been a solid home run for Netflix, with critics giving mixed reactions to the film. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film is sitting at a 52% audience score and a 67% critics rating, which isn’t amazing. This lukewarm reaction isn’t awful but probably isn’t the hit that Netflix was looking for. Digital Spy called it a ”well-acted if slightly rote Christmas film,” giving it 3 stars out of 5. IMDb users only gave the film a 6.4 out of 10. Tell-Tale TV give a more positive reaction, saying that Justin Hartley and Barrett Doss “dazzle” in the film, scoring it 3.5 stars out of 5.”
At ReadySteadyCut, the reaction was less than positive. Only getting 2 stars, the review described the film as “a hollow, romantic Christmas film with no chemistry.” It’s clear that Netflix has several avenues to improve the film if they do move forward with a sequel.
Will there be a sequel to The Noel Diary?
Netflix hasn’t confirmed whether they will be making a sequel to The Noel Diary. As it has only recently been released, it’s probable that they will be collecting data on whether a sequel is necessary, usually waiting about a month. Netflix might also be waiting on the audience and critical reactions before greenlighting further films.
But given the constant need for more content in streaming, it’s likely that the other books in the collection will be adapted.
What could The Noel Diary 2 be about?
If there is a sequel to the film, Netflix could adapt the second book in Richard Paul Evans’ book series. The second book, The Noel Stranger, focuses on a new character Maggie Walther. GoodReads’ plot summary says that she feels like her world is imploding, as she’s publicly humiliated by her husband, after he’s arrested for bigamy. After isolating herself, she begins to trust again when she meets Andrew, but is threatened again when she discovers that Andrew holds a dark secret.
All of the stories in the Noel Collection focus on different characters, which means that Netflix would have to find a new cast. Director Charles Shyer hasn’t indicated if a sequel is something he’d like to do. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter he spoke about his positive experience working with Netflix, so it’s possible he might return to direct a sequel.
Netflix could create an original tale if they wanted to continue Jacob’s and Rachel’s story. The film leaves one key question unanswered, so a continuation to their story could give audiences some closure.
If Netflix were to go ahead with more films, it could become a Christmas staple for them for years to come.
