It’s getting closer to the moment when the world will finally be able to welcome the third installment of the Sister Act franchise. While there isn’t a release date for it yet, Whoopi Goldberg – who plays Deloris or Sister Mary Clarence in the film – has continuously given her fans updates, letting them know that it’s still on!

For now, the film is said to be released on Disney+, where the first two movies in this franchise currently live.

Tim Federle has been chosen as the director for Sister Act 3 after already obtaining success with his creation of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and directing Better Nate Than Ever. Madhuri Shekar, who wrote the script for the 2020 horror film Evil Eye and has been a staff writer for The Nevers, is coming on as the scriptwriter. 

Let’s take a look at who else is involved. 

Tyler Perry Is Producing Sister Act 3 

In 2020, it was announced that Tyler Perry, a writer, producer, and director who got his start by producing stage plays with music embedded throughout the storyline, would be joining the Sister Act 3 project as a producer.

Source: Paras Griffin / Getty

Two years prior, Perry more than hinted that he would be interested in being involved in the movie when he and Whoopi went on Andy Cohen’s show Watch What Happens Live, and Cohen suggested they buy the rights. 

Since getting the ball rolling, Perry has been vocal about the length of time at which it’s taking to complete the movie. 

Perry first shared his candid feelings about the pace back in 2022 when he was a guest on The View, which Whoopi co-hosts. He said, “I love the idea of us making this happen. But you know, the Hollywood system moves a little slower than I’d like to. So we’ve got a good script. We’re off to a great start. We’re just trying to get everybody moving in the right direction so we can get it going.”

Whoopi also chimed in, giving more insight into why it’s “taken 20 years” to bring Sister Act 3 to fruition.

“They were sort of lukewarm for the longest time. They said nobody wanted to see it and then Tyler went in and said, ‘I want to see it.’ Next thing I knew, we were on. That’s the power of TP.” 

Two years have passed since that conversation. Perry opened up again about the lengthy process in February.

“I’m a little annoyed with how long this has taken me. It’s taking so long, like I’ve done four movies since we started talking about this,” he told Entertainment Tonight. When I’m outside producing with — you know, Disney’s a huge, wonderful company. But I really want to get this movie and Whoopi really wants to get this movie.” 

Keke Palmer is a cast member.

Source: Lea Winkler / Glamour Magazine

Keke Palmer has already confirmed her involvement in the musical movie. She snagged the opportunity to ask Goldberg to be in the film back in 2021 during her visit to The View. 

She said, “Whoopi, I gotta shoot my shot, like I did with Issa [Rae] a little bit ago. I heard that Tyler Perry is doing Sister Act 3. And I just want you to know that I’m available for the job — any job. I mean, you ain’t got to say nothing now, you know, I’ll send you an email or something. Just let me know if you need me.” 

Goldberg then responded, “I already brought it up. C’mon, Keke.”


Palmer updated fans the next year and let them know it was official. During a 2022 interview with Hollywood Life, she said, “I’m gonna go with this because I’m definitely cast in Sister Act 3 — they even have it on IMDb at this point. It’s real. So I mean, they haven’t given me the contract, honey, but I will do it for free at this point. [IMDb] did set us all up because I looked at it myself and said, ‘When do I start filming?’”

Whoopi asked Sheryl Lee Ralph to make a return.

Sheryl Lee Ralph may make a return for Sister Act 3 after Goldberg asked her to be a part of it on The View earlier this year. A stunned Ralph gasped and said, “Oh Whoopi” clearly heart warmed by Goldberg’s request. 

Source: Steve Granitz / Getty

Ralph was already a part of the franchise back in 1993 and played the strict mother of Lauryn Hill’s character, Rita Louise Watson although Hill has still not signed on for the project. In Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Ralph did not support her daughter’s dreams for singing and was against her being in the student choir because she wanted her to focus more on her academics. 

Tanya Trotter is unconfirmed but has expressed interest in returning.

Another Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit cast member, Tanya Trotter, has hinted that her return for the threequel may be in the works as well. 

Source: Astrida Valigorsky / Getty

In June, she gave an update on the progress of the film to Entertainment Tonight. She said, “Well, I can’t say [whether or not I’m a part of it], but I do know that the script is done.”

When ET asked if she would even be interested in doing the next film she said, “Anything that Whoopi Goldberg is a part of — ’cause she’s a legend, she’s an icon, she’s my mentor, hero — yes, I would say yes.”

Kathy Najimy is also unconfirmed but has expressed interest in returning.

Source: Arturo Holmes / Getty

Kathy Najimy played the beloved nun Sister Mary Patrick in the first two installments of the Sister Act franchise, but it hasn’t been made clear whether Najimy will be a part of it. In fact, the last time Najimy was on The View in 2022, she turned to Goldberg to ask if it was still happening. 

She said, “I haven’t heard anything formal about three yet, I’ve heard rumblings of it. I think it’d be a blast of fun. I look forward to the nuns that we were with that are still with us. Seeing them again, they were fantastic. So much fun.” Then she asked Goldberg, “Where is that at? Is that happening?”

Goldberg responded, “It took a little while, but it’s happening. You all helped that happen, I think, because they brought Hocus Pocus back. They finally said, ‘We might as well put those nuns back out there and see if they have any juice.’”

There have not been any recent public discussions about the Hocus Pocus star being involved.

Maggie Smith’s passing led to a “shift” in the script.

Like Najimy, Maggie Smith appeared in both the first and second movies as Mother Superior. Unfortunately, the Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning actress, who is also commonly known for her recurring role as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise, passed away at age 89 in September. 

Source: Dave Benett / Getty

With her passing, Goldberg revealed that the film is going through a “shift” and that they are reworking the script. She said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, “We’re having to make some readjustments because we just lost Maggie Smith, as you know. And so, we will get it done. We will get it done. It just is a shift.”

Back in January 2023, Goldberg spoke to British talk show Loose Women about Smith. In the interview, she sent a message to Smith pleading with her to be on Sister Act 3. 

She said, “One of the things that I want to make sure I do while I’m here is I want to let Maggie Smith know that I’m holding the part of Mother Superior for you because I just can’t do it with anybody but you.”

“So if you need me to come over here and shoot it and do whatever we have to do. We will do whatever you want us to do,” Goldberg continued. “But we don’t want to do it without you, Maggie.”

Goldberg has expressed that she wants artists like Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, and Jennifer Hudson involved in Sister Act 3. However, there have been no confirmations that any of the ladies will participate.

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