Taylor Zakhar Perez Shares Excitement for ‘Red, White & Royal Wedding’ and Talks About Fans’ Love for Alex & Henry
Taylor Zakhar Perez is set to reprise his role as Alex Claremont-Diaz in the upcoming film Red, White & Royal Wedding. As he prepares to return to this beloved character, Perez shares insights into the experience of revisiting Alex.
“Stepping back into Alex after all this time feels like reuniting with an old friend who’s grown up alongside you,” Perez remarked in an interview with VMAN. He elaborated, “The first film was this whirlwind of discovery—for the character, for me, for the audience. Now, there’s this added layer of maturity that Alex clearly didn’t have in the first one. It’s not about recreating the magic; it’s about honoring how these wildly ambitious characters would realistically evolve.”
Perez also highlighted the rapport he has developed with co-star Uma Thurman, who portrays his mother. “We’ve built a meaningful friendship off-set, which has helped with our relationship on screen. She is such a powerhouse acting partner who is wildly present and cares about the craft. It has felt like no time has passed. Reuniting with Nicholas and Rachel [Hilson], we’re in lockstep,” he noted.
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Red, White & Royal Wedding serves as a sequel to Amazon’s Red, White & Royal Blue, which is based on Casey McQuiston’s novel detailing the romantic relationship between the son of the President of the United States and a British prince.
Nicholas Galitzine will also return as Prince Henry in the sequel, which will be directed by Jamie Babbit and feature a screenplay by Gemma Burgess, Matthew López, and McQuiston.
On collaborating with Babbit, Perez expressed, “Jamie has a way of creating a space for play; she really allows you to bring your character’s choices to life while being extremely additive to your performance. Because Nicholas and I know our characters so well, Jamie always wants to be in service of the truth of the world. She has worked with some legendary actors and creates a positive and trustworthy environment for us.”
In returning to the character of Alex, Perez shared that Alex is now “committed” to his relationship with Henry, has graduated from law school, and is more self-assured.
“The big questions aren’t about figuring out his sexuality or hiding anymore; they’re about what comes next in life, love, career, and the world around him,” he said.
Perez emphasized that the film has “resonated so deeply with people” and acknowledged that there is a palpable “appetite for more of Alex and Henry.” He expressed his gratitude for this interest and indicated openness to continuing the story in future films. “If we get to keep telling their story beyond this chapter, whether in another film or exploring bigger arcs, I’d want it to keep pushing boundaries on representation,” he stated.
