"10 Things: The cult film should get a sequel

The director of "10 Things I Hate About You" reveals that he is working on a follow-up film - with a homage to the late Heath Ledger (1979-2008), who played the leading role back then.

Gil Junger (70) directed the 1999 teen comedy "10 Things I Hate About You," starring Julia Stiles (44) and Ledger as a rebellious dream couple. In an interview with "People," he announced that a follow-up film titled "10 Things I Hate About Dating" is in the works with original producer Andrew Lazar (59). It is intended to be the first part of a trilogy—with the additional titles "10 Things I Hate About Marriage" and "10 Things I Hate About Kids." He and Lazar have "some pretty good ideas."

In "10 Things I Hate About You," the life of highly gifted, rebellious loner Kat Stratford (Stiles), constantly compared to her popular token sister, is turned upside down when the new, peculiar student Patrick Verona (Ledger) arrives. Much like the film was a modern retelling of William Shakespeare's 16th-century comedy "The Taming of the Shrew," the new film is said to be inspired by Molière's 1666 play "The Misanthrope."

The script, which Junger is co-writing with Naya Elle James, is still in its early stages, but the director would like to bring familiar faces in front of the camera for the film: "I would love to work with Julia again. She has shaped the lives of millions of women. The character of Kat spoke to young women in a very powerful way."

Heath Ledger, who died in 2008 at the age of 28, is sorely missed. When asked if there might be a reference to the actor in "10 Things I Hate About Dating," Junger emphasizes, "I think that's a wonderful idea, and the answer is now yes."

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