For the ever hopefuls, it’s never-say-never land in Hollywood. I understand all too well how poorly a movie also actual Steel’, the Robot–Rocky movie with a beating heart and a father-son relationship in its center is needed. It is under development, and that’s virtual that we’ve heard concerning the sequel across the better part of the whole decade, which has just almost two months ago.
Let’s face it, getting a sequel made in Hollywood is not as uphill a climb as it was back in the day, with franchises being formed from mediocre fare left, right and center. And with all the other films out there getting a sequel, I will completely understand how heartbreaking it must be for fans of the first film to be led on with promises, especially now, nine years since the film first released when there nevertheless are vocal fans voicing the demand for a sequel. Funny then, that brings me back to the times of the film’s launch in 2011, in which it was a surprise for every single one of us who ventured into the film with reduced expectations and got out with a smile plastered across our faces.
The movie was shown to be better than anyone expected it to be out of the promos, and melded futuristic sci-fi, even if a bit in the kind of robot boxing, even using a well-constructed storyline, well-written characters, and real emotion, and a kickass soundtrack. Strangely enough, the one visual out of this movie that does not abandon me is of Jackman driving in his truck to sunset to the songs of’All My Days’ by Alexi Murdoch playing. In the memory of the same, I seriously, ideally wish for the universe to conspire in the favor of the actual Steel’ sequel, but until then, this is all that we know of the alleged sequel that has been under development for quite some time now. Read on.
At the start, I will just say that there hasn’t been a complete negation about the talks of there being a sequel, however, despite the number of years which have passed. Nobody involved with the projects has stated that the sequel isn’t happening, together with director Shawn Levy even stating that he and Jackman have been because working on and waiting for the right script for the sequel.
“We have been quietly developing a sequel to deal Steel’ for three and a half years. We’ve produced a few wonderful scripts but Hugh and I would only make it if the plot feels new, but also the character journeys feel refreshing, and we have found both but never at the same moment. It is ongoing. I know the clock is ticking. That movie, reluctantly, to get a movie that did very well worldwide –it did okay domestically–but that the love for actual Steel’ remains kind of unique as much as rabid fans who ask me constantly for another one. Hugh and I like that movie so if we can crack it, we’ll make it, but I have this sense that we better make that happen shortly, or frankly, the audience may not be there in the same manner. So we will see”, said Levy.
“We make that happen soon” being the keyword here, because quite honestly, so far so good, but a yet single movie franchise has all of the odds of the audience feigning interest in case a sequel comes out following a decade.
Coming to the narrative component of it, the first movie, actually set in 2020, finished with Max and Charlie reconciling as father and son, while Atom, who lost the fight being termed the people’s champion. The film could pick up after the actual time gap that has passed since the first movie released, watching as though it would make little sense to place the movie even five years out of then (2025), as well as because Jackman and Goyo playing with Charlie and Max have aged significantly since then. What I’d like to see would be their bond all these years later, using Max now a young adult, since the duo delves deeper into the world of robot boxing with Atom. Can I hear mods for our boy Atom here? Since that would be awesome.
Among his many films, Hugh Jackman has been fairly vocal in saying how much he enjoys this film, so we may safely assume that he would like to return as Charlie along with Dakota Goyo as Max. Both Evangeline Lilly and Anthony Mackie have been busy with the MCU and the latter with Netflix, however, I want to feel both of them would like to return in their functions if and when the movie occurs.
Since Shawn Levy has already stated that he’s working on a script behind the scenes, long as it might be, he’d be imagining himself to come back as director. The more than a plausible decade difference between both movies also suggests we cannot predict other technicians working on the sequel when it has been made, besides Levy.
It is simply cruel for the lovers to have been waiting for nine years now, but looking at the current prospects of a movie, I’d say there’s much more waiting in store for fans. Expect no sooner than a 2022 release date if Real Steel 2 comes to fruition next year or so.