Ready Player One was released in 2018 to mostly positive reviews and an impressive $609.7 million at the worldwide box office. Based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Ernest Cline, the story is set in a dystopian future where people escape their grim reality by immersing themselves in a virtual reality world called the OASIS.
In the movie, Teenager Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) embarks on a quest within the OASIS to find an Easter egg left by its creator, James Halliday, with its discovery promising wealth and control of the OASIS to the winner.
A sequel to the original novel, Ready Player Two, was published in 2020. Watts was once again the focus and, while it drew mixed reviews from fans of the original, there's been a fair bit of excitement to see it adapted for the big screen like its predecessor.
Well, it's finally happening, albeit with Steven Spielberg producing instead of returning as director. Showbiz 411 (via SFFGazette.com) recently caught up with the filmmaker and, while they don't share any specific quotes, their report reveals:
"Exclusively, the great Steven Spielberg told me that 'Ready Player Two,' the sequel to his huge hit from a couple of years ago, will be coming. Only Spielberg will produce, not direct. He didn't give me a timetable.
"Spielberg, meantime, is exploring his options for new films with a lot of choices including 'The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara,' which has been bantered about for years. He also has a remake of 'Bullitt' with Bradley Cooper that’s been on deck for some time."
There's no word on who will helm this sequel, but they have big shoes to fill when it comes to following in Spielberg's footsteps. Ready Player One isn't considered one of his best movies, of course, so another filmmaker may well be able to improve on what he delivered over half a decade ago.
For what it's worth, back in 2020, Sheridan seemed keen to return to the franchise.
"Recently, like I've had people asking me questions about, you know, a Ready Player Two. You know, 'Is there going to be sequel?' And I think everybody's well aware that Ernie Cline is releasing a Ready Player Two , the novel. You know, but people keep asking me and I would love to have an answer for you and I think people, you know, will and can speculate all they want, but I don't really know what the plan is yet. I have my fingers crossed and, of course, I think it's a great and I loved working on that film, so yeah, I hope, I hope we get to do another."
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