While Tiger King: Madness, Mayhem, and Murder stole headlines, another Netflix release was gently raking in more audiences: Spenser Confidential. Roughly 85 million households watched the Mark Wahlberg-starring action-comedy film in its earliest month compared to only 64 million to the wacky crime documentary series in precisely the quantity of time. Both were released in March 2020.
After serving time in prison for an attack, ex-cop Spenser (Wahlberg) gets entangled in the double-murder of two Boston police officers – discovering a sinister conspiracy gripping the city to him being framed five years earlier. With the support of his no-nonsense roommate, Hawk (Winston Duke), he embarks on a quest to take down the ring of dirty cops and drug dealers that helped place him away and have been wreaking havoc on the streets ever since.
All indications point to the release of part 2, while Netflix has not announced a sequel to Spenser Confidential, however. Here is what we know so far.
Though nothing has been confirmed yet, considering the success of this Spenser Confidential – along with the apparent cliffhanger end – it sounds very likely there will be a sequel.
The Netflix original movie is very loosely based on Ace Atkins’ novel Wonderland and the character created by Robert B. Parker. He wrote dozens of stories featuring a private detective named Spenser. The 1980s TV series Spenser: For Hire, starring Robert Urich, was based on Parker’s tales. When Atkins took over the show, parker introduced the character and churned out story after story before his death in 2010.
The storyline of Spenser Confidential two is very likely to address that cliffhanger ending of the movie, wherein Wahlberg’s character will get wind of a mystery. Sure sounds like a set up to get a franchise.
While out to dinner with Hawk, fantastic friend Henry (Alan Arkin), and girlfriend Cissy (Iliza Schlesinger) to celebrate cracking his first scenario, Spenser is drawn into a news report regarding the arrest of a Boston fire chief in connection with an arson in a church that killed two firefighters. “It’s a setup! I vow to God, and I did not do so. I need help!” The fire main begs to the news camera. Having gone to high school, Spenser immediately questions the gears start turning – and also the validity of this charge.
This story is based on an Atkins book, Slow Burn, where Hawk and Spenser explore fire in a church and discover a dangerous criminal underworld at Boston.
Considering each of the main cast – like a couple of men that are bad – is still living in the conclusion of Spenser Confidential, it is highly probable that the core characters will return.
In terms of persistence and audience appeal, it would be essential for Wahlberg, Duke, and Arkin to celebrity in part 2. Since it would be highly believable that Spenser moved on to some fan, But it imperative for Schlesinger to appear again as Cissy. In terms of bad guys, the door is wide open for who could pick those up roles, as it’s a crime story that is new. Of course, dirty cop Driscoll played with Bokeem Woodbine (Fargo), and prison nemesis Squeeb (singer Article Malone) could both make cameos.
Chancers are as Spenser Confidential marks the fifth collaboration between both managers Peter Berg is going to be with him if Wahlberg signals on again. They have worked together on Deepwater Horizon Lone Survivor, Patriots Day, and Mile 22. Wahlberg’s program is probably the most significant barrier to overcome. In over 25 years in the business, he’s appeared in Ted 2, Transformers three sequels: The Last Knight, and Daddy’s Home 2. The actor told the Los Angeles Times, “I always like to find the upcoming new thing to do, and I want to do the complete opposite of the final thing that I did.”
That said have been released in the previous five decades, so his mentality is evolving. Berg seems to think so. He advised the L.A. Times he and Wahlberg have discussed a Spenser followup, and that both would”love to perform it” when their schedules permit.
Also is Duke. “I welcome the chance,” he said. “The great thing about this particular group of figures is they don’t back down, and they still don’t shy away from a challenge. I think that will always lead them to more adventure…”
There are many moving parts in regards to getting a sequel off the ground – programming, scripting, shooting, you name it. Considering how many names are involved with Spenser Confidential, navigating the celebrities’ different schedules likely presents the most significant challenge. With not even a whiff yet, when may Spenser Confidential 2 see the light of the day?
Right now, both Berg and Wahlberg are working on projects. Wahlberg already has two films, Infinite and Uncharted. He has also signed on to star in The Six Billion Dollar Man (through IMDb). Berg is set to launch Painkiller, a Netflix series regarding the emergency in America also is scheduled to documentaries on Rihanna and Chris Cornell. “I am a believer in one movie at a time and see how that goes,” Berg told the L.A. Times. “I do feel as [Spenser Confidential] lends itself well to a sequel, obviously given how we finished the movie.”
Considering how much time it took to find nearly two years following its announcement – the film released – and the continuing shutdown as a consequence of COVID-19, it’ll be at least a couple of years until we see a sequel. Final verdict: Do not hold your breath.