Netflix is holding its own cosmos with the action thriller The Gray Man with the main target now is to create its own franchise, as the 2022 hit will be getting a sequel addition to a spinoff film as confirmed by the streaming platform.
The Gray Man: Netflix aims to turn their 2022 hit into a franchise
The sequel will see the return of Ryan Gosling, along with Chris Evans and Dhanush and directors Joe and Anthony Russo. The Russo brothers and Mike Larocca would be producing their AGBO banner while co-writer Stephen McFeely is ready for penning the screenplay. AGBO is also behind another Netflix franchise featuring the 2020 movie Extraction starring Chris Hemsworth and will be getting a sequel in 2023. Plot descriptions are kept secret for the spin-off, yet Deadpool writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese are behind the script.
“With so many amazing characters in the movie, we had always intended for the Gray Man to be part of an expanded universe, and we are thrilled that Netflix is announcing a sequel with Ryan,” the Russo brothers said.
“With The Gray Man, the Russos delivered an edge-of-your-seat spectacle that audiences around the world are loving,” Scott Stuber, head of global film, added, “We’re excited to continue to partner with them and the team at AGBO as they build out The Gray Man universe.” [H/T Hollywood Reporter]
Netflix premiered The Gray Man on Friday 22nd July, based on the best-selling 2009 novel by Mark Greaney. Gosling is featured as secret agent Six, a CIA black ops assassin on the run, with Chris Evans playing a sociopath mercenary who is tracking him down at the bidding of a top government official who wants to erase his crimes.
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The Rotten Tomatoes audience rating for the thriller is 91 percent and, according to the streamer, The Gray Man debuted as the No. 1 movie in 92 countries with 88.55 million hours of viewing in its opening weekend. According to an internal ranking of a company that’s the best launch for a Netflix movie considering The Adam Project collected 92.4 million hours in March.
“The audience reaction to The Gray Man has been nothing short of phenomenal. We are so appreciative of the enthusiasm that fans across the world have had for this film,” a joint statement from the Russo brothers read, “With so many amazing characters in the movie, we had always intended for the Gray Man to be part of an expanded universe, and we are thrilled that Netflix is announcing a sequel with Ryan, as well as a second script that we’re excited to talk about soon.” [H/T Popculture.com]
