The new romance film Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe hit theaters on Sept. 8, and this story is one you’re going to want to check out — if you haven’t already. It tells the love story of two Mexican-American boys, Aristotle Mendoza (played by Max Pelayo) and Dante Quintana (played by Reese Gonzales), who build a close bond while helping each other see the world differently on their own roads to self-discovery. Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe, which was written and directed by Aitch Alberto, is based on a novel of the same name by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. With the film finally out and the book’s recent popularity on TikTok, fans may be wondering if a sequel will be coming out at a later date.Â
Sáenz wrote a second book titled Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World, which was published on Oct. 12, 2021. According to Goodreads, the sequel to the award-winning novel follows Ari and Dante as they “discover what it means to stay in love and build a relationship in a world that seems to challenge their very existence.” Ari, who struggled with his sexuality in the first book, allows himself to open his heart up to Dante. After falling in love, Ari returns to school for his senior year expecting to fly under the radar as he did in years prior. But things are different this time around as Ari “finds himself reaching out to new friends, standing up to bullies of all kinds, and making his voice heard.”
As for Ari’s relationship with Dante, things between them couldn’t be better. Though Dante has a way of getting under Ari’s skin, Dante also fills “him with desire.” While the boys are “determined to forge a path for themselves in a world that doesn’t understand them,” Ari soon finds himself fighting for a life he can create on his own terms after an unexpected loss.
I don’t know about you, but I would love to see Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World turned into a film with Pelayo and Gonzales reprising their roles. So far, there’s no word on if a sequel film is happening. Even if it is, it’ll probably be a while before it’s released — especially considering the current ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. For what it’s worth, Sáenz published Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe 11 years before the film adaptation was released. If this is any indication of when a sequel film will come out, then we’ve got a long wait on our hands, besties.