Open for business again: trailer for The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel released

The debut trailer for John Madden's sequel to the surprise 2012 box-office smash The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has hit the web, promising more adventures with the expat residents of an Indian retirement resort. The Shakespeare in Love director's followup, titled The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, sees ambitious hotel owner-manager Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) embark on a brand new venture for a second business. New arrivals include Guy (Richard Gere), while Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton and Maggie Smith are all back for the new instalment. The first Best Exotic Marigold Hotel took $136m (£81m) worldwide two years ago against a budget of just $10m, a hugely impressive take for an indie comedy. It was generally well-reviewed, though The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw demurred. "The cast are spry, but this bittersweet comedy about English retirees in India needs a Stannah chairlift to get it up to any level of watchability," he opined. "It's a film which looks as if it has been conceived to be shown on a continuous loop in a Post Office queue." The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, based once again on a screenplay by Ol Parker, opens its doors in the UK on 27 February, with the US following suit on 6 March. • Philip French reviews The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel • Sukhdev Sandhu: India – best exotic movie hell?