Never likely to turn down the chance for a franchise, Summit Entertainment was quick to capitalise on the solid success of Bruce Willis action comedy ensemble pic Red back in 2010. The sequel hits the US in July and heads here in August, and the studio is already starting work on a third instalment{
Veteran Red script writers Jon and Erich Hoeber (who have spun the characters from Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner’s slim original tome into the first two films already) are now signed on to start cracking out the third screenplay.
It’s really more a case of wanting to be ready should the sequel prove as popular as the first. The second film finds Bruce back as retired black ops agent Frank Moses, trying to live a quieter life with girlfriend Sarah Ross (Mary-Louise Parker). But things are never that simple for Frank, and soon old pal Marvin (John Malkovich) disrupts his domestic bliss with word that someone has a contract out on Frank. And there’s the small matter of a missing portable nuclear bomb…
None of the cast are signed for the third film yet, which likely won’t get a greenlight until the returns from the second start coming in. But we wouldn’t be surprised to see the new one going into development sooner rather than later… Red 2, meanwhile, opens here on August 2.