A sequel to the 2017 movie Atomic Blonde may be coming to Netflix.
According to a new report by Discussing Film, Atomic Blonde 2 is in early development at the streaming service, which is reportedly finalizing a deal to distribute the film. Charlize Theron, who starred in the original film, is set to produce the sequel and is expected to reprise her role as MI6 field agent Lorraine Broughton.
Beth Kono, who produced the first film through her production company Denver and Delilah Productions, will be back in the same role for the sequel.
No screenwriter has been attached to the project yet. It’s also not clear whether David Leitch, who directed the original, will return in the same capacity for the sequel. After directing the first movie, Leitch went on to direct huge blockbuster hits such as Deadpool 2 and the Fast & Furious spinoff, Hobbs & Shaw. And with two pending films to helm ― sci-fi drama The Division and action romance Undying Love ― Leitch’s busy schedule may prevent him from directing the Atomic Blonde sequel.
News that Netflix is interested in an Atomic Blonde sequel isn’t really surprising, as Leitch let it slip in an interview with Slashfilm last August that a streaming service was eyeing to nab the distribution rights to the movie.
“I think there is [still talk of a sequel]. A streaming service is into it,” Leitch said at the time. “I don’t know all the details. I was a work-for-hire on that movie, but at the end of the day, Kelly McCormick – my producing partner and my wife – she will be involved, I’m sure, as a producer. That’s how I got the gig in the first place. We’ll see.”
The original movie centers on Theron’s Broughton who is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents. The movie, which also starred James McAvoy, Eddie Marsen, John Goodman, Bill Skarsgard, Sofia Boutella, and Toby Jones, was distributed by Focus Features and grossed $100 million at the worldwide box office on a $30 million budget.
Atomic Blonde 2 is Theron’s second project that is currently in development at Netflix. Kono’s Denver and Delilah Productions is also working on a live-action adaptation of Greg Rucka’s comic book series The Old Guard, which is set to star Theron.