Key Takeaways:
– Atomic Blonde, a hit action thriller, was intended to launch a trilogy but the sequel hasn’t started production even seven years after its release.
– The delay is due to rights issues, as revealed by director David Leitch.
– Charlize Theron, who starred in and produced the movie, started developing Atomic Blonde 2 in 2018.
– Netflix was supposed to host the sequel as per an announcement made by Theron in 2020.
Celebrating its 7th anniversary, the action-packed thriller Atomic Blonde continues to leave fans on the edge of their seats. Despite turning a $30 million budget into a stunning $100 million box office success, the hopes for a sequel seem dimmed by legal speedbumps. Struggling against rights issues that have caused a stalemate in the production process, fans are left wondering if they’ll ever get to see an Atomic Blonde 2.
If you remember, Atomic Blonde introduced us to the fierce and relentless MI6 spy, Lorraine Broughton, played by the talented Charlize Theron. She was tasked with a life-or-death mission during the decline of the Berlin wall. Her goal? To get her hands on a priceless dossier and dismantle an unforgiving espionage ring. Aided by an embedded station chief, she maneuvered through the city’s deadliest game of spies.
Apart from Theron, the film boasted an all-star cast that included big names like James McAvoy, John Goodman, and Sofia Boutella. Given the movie’s high-intensity thrill combined with its intriguing plot, it’s no surprise that fans are eagerly waiting for the sequel.
The original plan was to expand Atomic Blonde into an exciting trilogy. Screenwriter Kurt Johnstad envisaged a three-part saga that could further explore the plot. Yet seven years have passed since the original release, and it’s been pure radio silence regarding the sequel.
According to film director David Leitch, the holdup is due to a tangle of rights issues. In an interview with The Direct, he said, “Everyone’s still trying to unravel rights issues, and it had traveled from Universal to Netflix for a bit, and then now it’s become a little bit of a bottleneck of too many forces working against each other to try and get it made.”
There’s no denying that Atomic Blonde was a passion project for Charlize Theron, who also produced the film through her company Denver and Delilah Productions. In 2018, Theron kickstarted the development of Atomic Blonde 2. Then, in 2020, she announced that Netflix would host the sequel.
The move to a streaming service like Netflix hinted at a potential solution to the rights issues. Yet, it seems the legal knot hasn’t thoroughly untangled. The passion for the project from both Theron and Leitch is evident, but they’re up against a frustrating circumstance. When different forces pull in opposite directions, things become complicated.
While we eagerly await more updates on the highly anticipated Atomic Blonde 2, it’s clear that the project isn’t dead in the water just yet. Both the team behind the scenes and the die-hard fans are more than willing to revisit the world of Lorraine Broughton and her lethal MI6 adventures.
It’s usually said that patience is a virtue, and it seems that for fans of Atomic Blonde, this virtue might be put to the test for a while longer. But who knows? Maybe we’ll soon get to watch our favorite MI6 spy back in action, navigating through another deadly game of spies.
Are you excited about Atomic Blonde 2? Do you hope the production team can clear the rights issues soon? Drop your thoughts and hopes in the comments below!
