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The untitled Cloverfield Sequel (unofficially named "Cloverfield 2") is an upcoming film apart of the Cloverfield Universe, and a direct sequel to the 2008 science fiction horror film, Cloverfield. Written by Joe Barton[3] and directed by Babak Anvari[1], Cloverfield 2 will abandon the original film's found footage format as a storytelling device.[2] J.J. Abrams will return as producer, and the film will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Plot

"PENDING..."
—Official Description

Summary

PENDING

Development

Speculative Stage

2008

At the premiere of the Cloverfield, Matt Reeves talked about possibilities of a sequel if the film succeeded. According to Reeves, "While we were on set making the film we talked about the possibilities and directions of how a sequel can go. The fun of this movie was that it might not have been the only movie being made that night, there might be another movie! In today's day and age of people filming their lives on their camera phones and Handycams, uploading it to YouTube... That was kind of exciting thinking about that."[4]

In an interview with ComingSoon.Net, Reeves had this to say:

GuyFilmingBridgeCloverfield-1-

The man with the camera records the disaster as it unfolds.

"There's a moment on the Brooklyn Bridge, and there was a guy filming something on the side of the bridge, and Hud sees him filming and he turns over and he sees the ship that's been capsized and sees the headless Statue of Liberty, and then he turns back and this guy's briefly filming him. In my mind that was two movies intersecting for a brief moment, and I thought there was something interesting in the idea that this incident happened and there are so many different points of view, and there are several different movies at least happening that evening and we just saw one piece of another."
—Comingsoon.Net[5]

Reeves also pointed out that the final scene on Coney Island shows something falling into the ocean in the background (on the far right from the view out of the Ferris wheel)[note 1], but didn't provide further detail. Producers Bryan Burk and J.J. Abrams talked with Entertainment Weekly about possible sequels. According to Burk, "The creative team has fleshed out an entire backstory which, if we're lucky, we might get to explore in future films".[6].

Abrams did not want to rush into the development of a sequel right away because of the first film's success. He wanted to create a sequel that was true to the original Cloverfield. January 2008, Reeves entered early talks with Paramount Pictures to direct a sequel to Cloverfield. At the time, the sequel was expected to enter production before Reeves's unproduced film, The Invisible Woman.

"The idea of doing something so differently is exhilarating. We hope that it created a movie experience that is different. The thing about doing a sequel is that I think we all really feel protective of that experience. The key here will be if we can find something that is compelling enough and that is different enough for us to do, then it will probably be worth doing. Obviously it also depends on how Cloverfield does worldwide and all of those things too, but really, for us creatively, we just want to find something that would be another challenge."
—Rotten Tomatoes.com[7]

In September 2008, when asked by CraveOnline what the current status of the sequel was[8], Abrams expressed reluctance to work on a direct sequel. They were working on something that "could be kind of cool", and that "it would be a totally different kind of thing".[8][9]

2010

During a 2010 interview with MTV, Abrams talked potentially abandoning the "found footage" filming style, stating that he and the rest of the crew would like to try something new.[10]

According to Abrams reiterated that Bad Robot Productions was still in the talks phase with Paramount Pictures about the sequel. He against expressed reluctance to work on a Cloverfield sequel, stating, "[...]the truth is there's another idea that I'd rather do with the same people than do a sequel of Cloverfield." Later on at the 2010 At the San Diego Comic-Con, Abrams shifted away from the idea of a direct sequel. "There will be a Cloverfield 2...but it won't be a sequel. It will be something "surprising".[11]

2011

According to Internet Movie Database, a "Cloverfield 2" profile was created with a "in development" status alongside an unconfirmed release date of 2014. The profile has since been updated and titled "Untitled Cloverfield Sequel"[12], bearing no significant production or casting information.

In a 2011 interview with TotalFilm, Reeves reassured that the intention was still to produce the Cloverfield sequel, but neither himself or Abrams knew when production would start and that they were still in talks over the story.[13][note 2] When asked whether or not the film would be in the same "found footage" format:

"You see, that’s a difficult part: we want it to be shot like the first but how can you continue that idea successfully for a second time? We have a lot of affection for the original and the sequel can’t just be the same thing. But that is tricky when you need to have a monster destroying stuff once again"
—TOTAL FILM[13]

2012

Speaking with ShockTillYouDrop, Drew Goddard stated he was still interested in writing for the Cloverfield sequel[14], but that he, Abrams, and Reeves all had different ideas about how to approach the sequel's story. "If you asked each of us what we wanted to do, you'll get three different answers, which is how the first film was. The aesthetic of Cloverfield benefits from that. Three voices pulling it."[14]

Later in the year, Goddard said,

"We didn’t set out to make a franchise, we set out to make a good movie. But I love that world and that universe, so if there was an idea that excited us enough, and we felt like there was a reason to do it, we would do it. [...]The nice thing about when you work with a guy like J.J., and the power he gets, the studio’s not going to force him to do anything. And he has been able to say, we’ll do it when we’re ready. We’re not going to just do it because it will help your bottom line, we’re going to do it because there’s an idea that excites us. And so that’s informed our discussions. We don’t feel like we have to, so it’s like, Can we come up with something that excites us enough to do it?"
—/SlashFilm.com[15]

2013

In an interview with Playboy Magazine, when questioned about the future of a Cloverfield 2 Abrams states, “Part of me just wants to let it go, though we’ve had a couple of discussions about cool ways to do it. I’m looking forward to seeing Pacific Rim this summer. It feels like there are some really big monsters coming down the pike that could inspire something we do.”[16][17]

2014

During a Reddit AMA session with actor T.J. Miller, user xx asked him whether or not there would be a Cloverfield sequel. Miller jokingly replied, "no way man! gross! Don't touch my leg man!"[18][19]

Pre-Production

April 2018, during early promotion for the science fiction horror film Overlord and "God Particle", Abrams confirmed that "a true, dedicated Cloverfield sequel" was in development. Abrams stated that it would likely be released in theatres rather than being released on Netflix.[20]

January 29, 2021, The Hollywood Reporter announced that a Cloverfield sequel was in pre-production stages at Bad Robot Productions with Abrams as producer.[21] Joe Barton, writer and showrunner for HBO Max's The Batman related Gotham PD series[3], was announced as the current screenwriter. Cloverfield director Matt Reeves would not return as director.[21][2]

In a September 2022 interview with Variety, Barton reported that the status of the screenplay was still a work in progress, and that he was writing it on his own with input from Paramount and Abrams.[22] October 2022, Bloody Disgusting announced that the Cloverfield sequel had gained a director in Babak Anvari.[1] Deadline, who broke the news stated that it's not known whether the film is a direct sequel to Cloverfield or unrelated film in keeping with the previous two films, The Cloverfield Paradox and 10 Cloverfield Lane.[23]

Trivia

  • As a direct sequel to Cloverfield, the untitled sequel is canonically the second film in the franchise despite being the fourth film produced.
  • The working title "Cloverfield 2" was also used to report on the unrelated Cloverfield film, 10 Cloverfield Lane.
  • J.J. Abrams is currently the only creative of the original Cloverfield with a producing credit for the sequel.

Gallery

Notes

  1. The object falls bit left of a boat sitting in the water seen falling just as the camera beeps
  2. Reeves: "Well, you are going to see it – we just don’t know when [laughs]. At the moment we are talking about the story quite a lot. Drew Goddard, who wrote the original, is going to pen the sequel and J.J. Abrams is very much involved. However, the three of us have been so busy that getting the right idea together has been taking a long time."

External Links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 ‘Cloverfield 2’ Officially in the Works with Babak Anvari Directing!
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 ‘Cloverfield’ Sequel Set at J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, Paramount
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Gotham PD Series at HBO Max Enlists Joe Barton as New Showrunner
  4. 'Cloverfield' Sequel Talk, Violent Plans!
  5. Reeves Runs Merrily Through Cloverfield
  6. Entertainment Weekly Magazine, 2008
  7. Exclusive: Matt Reeves Clarifies Cloverfield Sequel Status
  8. 8.0 8.1 J.J Abrams is on the 'Fringe'
  9. J.J. Abrams talks 'Cloverfield' sequel
  10. J.J. Abrams Talks Cloverfield Sequel
  11. Cloverfield Clues - Abrams Interview
  12. Untitled Cloverfield Sequel
  13. 13.0 13.1 Matt Reeves talks Cloverfield 2
  14. 14.0 14.1 A Cloverfield 2 Update From Drew Goddard
  15. Sequel Bits: James Cameron Wants More T-800 in ‘Terminator 5′, Plus: ‘Mission: Impossible 5′, ‘Cloverfield 2′, ‘Grown-Ups 2′, ‘Star Trek’ Video Game
  16. J.J. Abrams Will Seek Feedback From George Lucas For ‘Star Wars Episode VII;’ Could Still Direct ‘Star Trek 3′
  17. PLAYBOY INTERVIEW: J.J.ABRAMS
  18. Reddit AMA with T.J. Miller
  19. here Reddit AMA with T.J. Miller #2
  20. OVERLORD IS NOT CLOVERFIELD 4, BUT A 'TRUE' CLOVERFIELD SEQUEL IS ON THE WAY
  21. 21.0 21.1 'Cloverfield' Sequel in the Works With Batman TV Spinoff Showrunner (Exclusive)
  22. ‘Cloverfield’ Writer Joe Barton Talks New Witchcraft-Infused Netflix Show, Axed Gotham P.D. Series and Working With J.J. Abrams
  23. Babak Anvari to direct Cloverfield sequel from Paramount
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