I didn't get that, but I did get a sense that all these interesting characters were still alive and intact, and Hollywood has sometimes (often, maybe way too many times) made sequels to sucessful movies...
Think about it... Remember when he was getting off the plane and coming through the airport and everyone was looking at him. I think that all the people were brought in to try to bring him back Remember, how they would always ask him to come back to reality. Also, the kids were in the same clothes when he came home.
Am I the only one? Maybe it was all the shooting.