Two back-to-back Red Notice sequels are a possibility says director

Last Updated on November 22, 2021

While Red Notice left a lot to be desired from most mainstream critics, it has still proven to be the biggest film hit that Netflix has had to date. Thanks to the star power of Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot, audiences found something worth tuning in for and with that success, comes talk of Red Notice sequels. Director Rawson Marshall Thurber says that not only is a sequel a possibility but a third film is as well. Suddenly we have a franchise on our hands but the director thinks that, if it happens, the films would need to shoot back to back.

While speaking with “The Hollywood Reporter”, Thurber was running down his filmography and was asked about the sequel potential to his various movies. For those hoping for a Skyscraper follow-up, you may want to give up on that dream but the director was pretty optimistic about sequels to Red Notice. Thurber said he thinks it’s a “real possibility” and when asked about the rumor that the sequels would shoot back to back, the director said it was the “only responsible thing” to do given the size and scope of the films. Here is what he had to say:

“If we were to make a sequel, the only responsible thing would be to make two and three back to back. It’s such a big production, and if you can mount it one time, it will be better for everyone. Including for my mental health.”

Red Notice was a $200 million endeavor for Netflix and, having seen the film, I’m going to assume most of that went to the three leads because nothing about the production screamed let’s spend $200 million on action set pieces and effects. The globe trotting nature of the film does broaden the scope a bit and I’m sure it was a grueling shoot, particularly because they shot the film under strict COVID restrictions. The need to film two sequels back to back may be less of a technical issue and more about locking down Johnson, Reynolds, and Gadot who happen to be some of the busiest people working in the business.

Johnson has Black Adam releasing next year and is gearing up to headline Red One for Amazon and director Jake Kasdan. Throw in Hobbs & Shaw and Jumanji sequels and I’m pretty sure Johnson doesn’t even sleep because he’s that busy. Reynolds just wrapped The Adam Project and Spirited and has decided to take a little break from acting to focus on his family (doesn’t bode well for Deadpool 3). Gadot is also very busy as she has Wonder Woman 3 and Cleopatra on deck while she just landed the role of the Evil Queen in the live-action adaptation of Snow White. I’m not sure where they could fit in Red Notice 2 and 3 but I’m guessing we’re a couple of years away from it if it were to happen.

The film does set up a sequel so the thought was definitely there to make this a franchise if it proved to be a hit. Considering the business the film is doing for Netflix at the moment, which just released their new method of tracking their top ten performance metrics in a bid to be more transparent (or to flex that they’re better than their counterparts), they’ll want that sequel sooner rather than later.

Per the official synopsis from Netflix, “When an Interpol-issued Red Notice — the highest level warrant to hunt and capture the world’s most wanted— goes out, the FBI’s top profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) is on the case. His global pursuit finds him smack dab in the middle of a daring heist where he’s forced to partner with the world’s greatest art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) in order to catch the world’s most wanted art thief, “The Bishop” (Gal Gadot). The high-flying adventure that ensues takes the trio around the world, across the dance floor, trapped in a secluded prison, into the jungle and, worst of all for them, constantly into each other’s company. The all star cast is joined by Ritu Arya and Chris Diamantopoulos. Directed and written by Rawson Marshall Thurber (Central Intelligence, Skyscraper) and produced by Hiram Garcia, Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia of Seven Bucks Productions, Beau Flynn’s Flynn Picture Co. and Thurber’s Bad Version, Inc., Red Notice is a stylish globe-trotting game of cat-and-mouse (and cat).”

Do YOU want to see some Red Notice sequels?