Wanted Writers Will Return to Pen Wanted 2
When Timur Bekmambetov’s Wanted opened to $50 million back in June 2008, it didn’t take long for Universal to start talking about sequel. In fact, just a couple of weeks later they were already planning to turn the comic book adaptation into a trilogy, and yet now, three years later, a follow-up has yet to materialize. A big reason for the hold up has been Angelina Jolie’s reluctance to be involved; last year she opted out of the sequel in favour of Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity (which she also eventually dropped out of). Universal supposedly flirted with the idea of replacing her (Kristen Stewart was rumoured at one point) but then eventually decided to throw in the towel. Until now, that is.
According to The Wrap, Universal has hired original Wanted writers Derek Haas and Michael Brandt (2 Fast 2 Furious, 3:10 to Yuma) to write the sequel. Haas confirmed this news via Twitter, and also offered some additional tidbits of info. He says that Wanted 2 will “take off after the events of what just happened. Pick up Wesley a few years later and go back in for another round.” He also confirmed that their screenplay will be “Fox-less and Loom-less,” meaning that Angelina Jolie’s character will not return, and neither will the mystical Loom that assigns their targets.
While I’m certainly glad to see the Loom go, I wonder how much interest there will be in a Wanted sequel without the box office power of Angelina Jolie. I do agree with her own comments that bringing her character back would be a bit ridiculous, however. It is assumed that James McAvoy will return to play Wesley, but I don’t know if the story can be all that compelling if he already starts as a badass. No word on whether or not Bekmambetov might return to direct, but it seems unlikely with the number of projects already on his plate. What do you think, would you watch a Wanted sequel or has the window on this already expired?
Comments (7)
exired? the window was never open
Posted by Rick on September 28th, 2011Why would Jolie be involved in a sequel anyway? Wouldn’t that undermine everything about what happened to her character in the first one?
Posted by rjdelight on September 28th, 2011Would you please, for the love of my father, stop using big CAPTIONS for words that are not supposed to be captioned on the headlines? I know it looks ”cool”, but it causes confusion over whether you are referring to a film title or not, and I am therefore left looking at the title extra carefully to understand it, which there shouldn’t be any need to. Just because i sacrificed myself for the sins of mankind, doesn’t mean humanity can go on being that stupid. I already have a hard time face-palming consumerism, Hollywood cliche films and American invasion of every state there ever is without reactions. Please do me the favor and stop what you are doing. You are hurting my eyes by making med use 2-3 more extra seconds looking at the headlines. I need those 2-3 seconds (x7 a week) back from my life!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Jesus on September 28th, 2011So wait, the first movie was actually written… with words?
Posted by Blake on September 29th, 2011fuck, Wanted was shit.
Posted by patrik on September 29th, 2011Jolie shouldn’t return if it takes place after the events of the first. I’d still watch it.
What I’m less interested in is a Wanted 2 without Timur Bekmambetov. I like his style, even the over-the-top parts, and feel that a sequel would be weaker without his direction.
Posted by Deven Science on September 30th, 2011Nah, they shouldn’t do the film without Angelina Jolie this sequel technacly was written for Fox, and without her being in it, its gonna be a bland storyline and it wont do that big of a profit without the lead box office wonder in t :/
Posted by Zach on February 9th, 2012Leave a Reply