An Update on 'Wanted 2' Offers Small Glimmer of Hope

Amazing to think that six years have passed since the comic adaptation Wanted helped create a Hollywood superstar in James McAvoy. It also introduced many to the aggressive, action-packed stories of writer Mark Millar, who would bring his comics Kick-Ass, Kick-Ass 2, and Kingsman: The Secret Service to the screen. A sequel to Wanted has been talked about often but without star Angelina Jolie who refused an opportunity to return, the film has never really gotten off the ground. But could that be about to change? Producer Marc Platt certainly thinks so.

Speaking with Comingsoon.net, Platt explains why a sequel has taken so long...

Platt: “We have a script that’s getting pretty good. To do a sequel when it wasn’t really set up for a sequel–one of our main characters dies in it. You don’t want to just retread a similar story, but when we get the script to a certain bar, there will be a sequel. It’s taken a while because it’s challenging, as I said, because we lost a main, main character, so where that James McAvoy character goes now… we have good ideas though. It’s coming along.”

At least he seems confident in McAvoy's return, despite the actor being more in-demand now than he was in 2008. The Jolie thing was an obvious hurdle, though, as her character "Fox" was killed off at the end of the first movie. That didn't stop producers from trying to lure her back.  When that failed, Kristen Stewart's name popped up to play a new female character but that was a long time ago and circumstances have probably changed.

So it's an update but not much of one. We don't know who would be directing or if any other stars would return. What it sounds like to me is that a script for Wanted 2 has been worked on for so long that nobody wants to just give up on it, even though there isn't any clamor a sequel. If this happens it's going to be a good ways off, and the longer it takes the less viable the whole thing becomes.

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A new female character to be introduced in 'Wanted 2'

"An unbelievable thing happened three weeks ago. Because we stopped, we didn't know what to do for three or four years. Three weeks ago I came up with a great idea and I pitched this idea and everybody fell in love with it. And now I think we're on track. Right now the writer is working on the script, and it will be shocking. It's a continuation of the story, with Wesley Gibson. Other people are dead, you know, we can't bring them back. The story is the same character, same mythology, but it's got a great twist."

That was what director Timur Bekmambetov told us a few months ago when asked about the state of Wanted 2, which has been stuck in place for a few years while they try to figure out how best to tackle the sequel. After courting Angelina Jolie to return, she ultimately refused, and practically no movement was made on it since. James McAvoy was obligated to come back, and there were rumors at one point that Kristen Stewart could come aboard as a new female character. Whether or not Stewart does it is anyone's guess(probably not), but the idea of a new female lead seems to have stuck.

Screenwriter Derek Haas was asked by Hollywood.com about the film, and he revealed the story picks up four years later, with Wesley facing a very familiar situation....

Haas: "The only thing I can tell you is that Wesley [James McAvoy] is now, four years later, recruiting a young woman who is in his situation in the first movie. She's got a sh**ty life. He's sort of in the Fox role. This new girl is brought into the world"

Does anybody still care about a Wanted sequel at this point? It's been four years already and that film was very much a product of the moment, like many Mark Millar stories tend to be.  Although it made over $340M, there hasn't been much of a clamor for a follow-up, and without Jolie attached I doubt it will draw much attention.

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'Wanted 2' is definitely happening, and it will be "shocking"

Ever since Wanted turned out to be a bigger than expected hit, grossing over $340M for a film based on comic book series few had read, it seemed logical that a sequel would follow. While the talk picked up pretty quickly, there's been very little genuine progress. Angelina Jolie repeatedly rebuffed attempts to lure her back, meaning that the biggest star had now been lost. Original scribes Derek Haas and Michael Brandt came aboard last September to pen the follow-up, although word has been pretty quiet. Lastly, there's the way the previous film ended, with practically every character that mattered(including Jolie's Fox) left for dead.

Director Timur Bekmambetov has been making the press rounds hyping up Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and along the way he was asked about the progress on Wanted 2, and he seems to think they've finally cracked the story code...

Bekmambetov: "An unbelievable thing happened three weeks ago. Because we stopped, we didn't know what to do for three or four years. Three weeks ago I came up with a great idea and I pitched this idea and everybody fell in love with it. And now I think we're on track. Right now the writer is working on the script, and it will be shocking."

That leads to some interesting questions, not the least of which is what the frig have Haas and Brandt been doing all this time if Bekmambetov just came up with the idea three weeks ago? Really? It sounds like bullcrap to me, or maybe the writers were relieved of duty and nobody bothered to announce it. He doesn't give away much in the way of details in regards to the plot, but does reveal it will revolve around the Wesley Gibson character, played by James McAvoy, who has been confirmed to return since 2009.....

Bekmambetov: "It's a continuation of the story, with Wesley Gibson. Other people are dead, you know, we can't bring them back. The story is the same character, same mythology, but it's got a great twist."

 In other words, don't expect to see Jolie or Morgan Freeman coming back in anything other than a flashback or cameo. I'm much more curious about those old rumors that had Kristen Stewart taking over the female lead, although that's probably far fetched at this point.  Honestly, does anybody really care if they make a sequel? The first film was brash and loud, but ultimately a very empty experience. So much of what made Mark Millar's comic series so good was the premise, which had the bad guys in the world finally defeating the heroes and taking over. The film jettisoned all of that in favor of something totally unoriginal, yet still maintained Millar's trademark arrogance.

I think Wanted 2 will eventually happen, but nobody will care if Jolie's not on board. It's a sequel to a forgettable film, and probably best left to the dustbins of history. [ThePlaylist]

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Original writers brought back for 'Wanted' sequel

It's been a long time since we heard anything about a sequel to Wanted. Part of the reason is...well, I don't think anybody's actually dying to see one. Sure the original turned out to be a balls out, 4th wall breaking action hit, launching the Hollywood career of Mark Millar(Kick-Ass) and evolving him from a loud mouth comic book writer into a loud mouth wannabe filmmaker. In March of last year, the ever talkative Millar said that filming was set to take place later in the year, with a plan for the sequel to hit theaters at the end of 2011. That ain't happenin'. Production hit a stumbling block when Angelina Jolie quite openly refused attempts to be brought back, making the headshot her character took at the end of the first film more fatal than I think was intended. Rumors have been swirling that Kristen Stewart might take over, with James McAvoy legally bound to return.

Despite all the snags, it looks like Wanted 2 is definitely going to happen. Derek Haas, one of the writers of the original film along with Michael Brandt, tweeted that they'd been hired back to pen the sequel. He then went on to tell The Wrap that it will “pick up Wesley a few years later and go back in for another round.” Um, ok.

That doesn't tell us who else of the original cast may return. Would Common come back as the Gunsmith? And what about director Timur Bekmambetov? The more I think about it, the more I'm digging the idea of Stewart stealing the co-lead from McAvoy, if only to see how she handles her weapons.

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Wanted 2 Still On? Mark Millar Think So...

A few days we told you about Angelina Jolie's walking away from the sequel to Wanted, in order to star in Alfonso Cuaron's sci-fi epic, Gravity. Well, that turned out to be mostly incorrect. The actress has indeed pulled herself from Wanted, but she's now no longer attached to Gravity and is instead eyeing Darren Aronofsky's Serena.  But that's another story.

Digital Spy(via STV) recently reported that Mark Millar, creator of Wanted, revealed that the film is proceeding without Jolie's involvement for possible release at the end of 2011...

"What I heard was that there's filming this year for a release at the end of next year, so the plot that they had will have some modifications now, her character will have to be written out completely. We'll see what happens.

"I don’t know, it changes every day. Again, things get so out of your hands with film because 300 people are involved, whereas with comics it's just you and your artist."

Millar went on to reveal that a story had been hashed out which would resurrect Fox(Jolie's character) from the dead, and that she was the potential star of the story, but now that story is being re-worked.

Hey, more power to 'em. I could do without another Wanted in any way, shape, or form, but I knew from the start that the project wasn't dead. It's too lucrative of a potential franchise to simply walk away from, especially with a wealth of A-list actresses who I'm sure would be happy to dive in and take Jolie's place. Expect this one to come out some time next year right on schedule.

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