Camila Mendes Set to Star in and Produce 'Upgraded' Sequel

The romantic comedy has been enjoying a comeback, and streaming services have noticed. Light, escapist love stories with glamorous settings and charming leads are proving just as popular as ever. A 2024 Prime Video hit is now getting a chance to prove it.

‘Upgraded‘ followed an ambitious art auction house intern whose life changes when she gets bumped to first class on a flight to London. It launched on Prime Video in February 2024, directed by Carlson Young, and earned a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Its blend of romance, couture and workplace comedy won over plenty of viewers.

Now the story is getting a second act. According to an exclusive from The Hollywood Reporter, Camila Mendes is set to return as both star and producer of ‘Upgraded 2’ for Amazon MGM Studios. Production begins this month in Italy, and the sequel will be available worldwide on Prime Video.

Becca Gleason is directing the follow-up, taking over from Young. Luke Roberts and Justin Matthews, who wrote the first film, are back to pen the script. Plot details have not been shared.

The producers include Mike Karz and Bill Bindley for Gulfstream Pictures, which financed the first film. Mendes and Rachel Matthews are producing through their company Honor Role, and Lena Roklin of Luber Roklin Entertainment is on board too. Piers Tempest produces for Tempo Production.

Mendes and Matthews executive produced the original film. The pair then founded Honor Role to champion character-driven storytelling. Its features include this year’s ‘Idiotka’, in which Mendes also co-stars.

In the first film, Mendes played Ana Santos, an intern at a New York auction house working under a demanding boss named Claire, played by Marisa Tomei. When an airline employee upgrades Ana to first class, she meets Will, played by Archie Renaux. He mistakes her for her boss, which sets off a white lie and a glamorous chain of events.

Critics and viewers often compared it to ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, swapping the fashion world for the art world. Metacritic reviewers described it as ‘What a Girl Wants’ meets ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ with a dash of ‘Emily in Paris’ camp. Mendes was widely praised for her charm in the lead role.

Casting beyond Mendes has not been confirmed. It remains unclear whether Renaux and Tomei will return, or who might star opposite her in the sequel. The setting has shifted to Italy, which suggests a new backdrop for another round of romance and mix-ups.

That uncertainty leaves fans guessing. Part of the first film’s appeal was the chemistry between Ana and Will and the sharp dynamic with Claire. Any sequel will have to decide how much of that to bring back.

The announcement fits a larger trend in Mendes’ career. She has built a strong relationship with Amazon MGM through projects like ‘Música’ and ‘Masters of the Universe’. In the latter, she plays Teela opposite Nicholas Galitzine’s He-Man.

She first became widely known as Veronica in ‘Riverdale’. Since then, she has steadily moved into producing, taking creative control of the stories she wants to tell. ‘Upgraded 2’ continues that path.

Streaming has given rom-coms a second life, and sequels are a natural way to build on the audience that found them. The first film still has a strong reputation, and it arrived at a time when fans wanted lighter fare. Setting the follow-up in Italy adds another layer of escapism.