Why Wendi McLendon-Covey Is Missing Bridesmaids’ Oscars 2026 Reunion

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The 2026 Oscars will be down a bridesmaid.

As Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy and Ellie Kemper prepare to reunite on stage at the Conan O’Brien-hosted ceremony March 15, their Bridesmaids costar Wendi McLendon-Covey will have to be there in spirit. Although, as the 2011 film’s director Paul Feig posited, the Goldbergs actress had to skip out due to scheduling.

“I just heard that she was not available,” he told Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “She might even be traveling, I'm not sure. But we will miss her terribly, because I love Wendy.”

And in the 15 years since the film debuted, the bond between the director and the cast has endured. In fact. Feig even honored the film by donning a magenta suit on the Oscars red carpet. (For all the looks click here.)

Although, as for whether a sequel could happen one day, he directs all questions to co-writers Kristin and Annie Mumolo—and anyone trying to figure out the A-list casts’ schedules.

Though he admitted, “there's ideas out there,” for a follow-up, but really Kristen and Annie are the ones that birthed this movie with their amazing script. So I would never dare get in their way or be too presumptive.”

At the very least, Paul will be in the crowd at the 2026 Oscars cheering on Kristin, Maya, Melissa, Ellie and Rose as they take the stage. But for Rose, the event is more than just an occasion to see her old pals as she’s also a Best Actress nominee for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. (Maya’s longtime partner Paul Thomas Anderson is also up for multiple awards for his movie One Battle After Another.)

"It feels so surreal, and I just screamed," she said in a statement to Deadline in January "I screamed, I screamed, I screamed. I just cannot believe it. It’s such an honor and there’s no words to describe the feeling.”

To see the Bridesmaids ladies and more on the red carpet, keep reading...