Despite its success, a film sequel to the 2018 hit Upgrade has but to be launched – a scenario that, whereas irritating for followers, is definitely excellent news for the franchise’s potential future. Directed and written by Saw veteran Leigh Whannell, Upgrade made an outsized influence on launch, regardless of its small finances and comparatively restricted promotion. Yet whereas the film explored some fascinating concepts and laid the groundwork for a possible follow-up, an expanded franchise may very well profit from a hiatus away from the highlight.

Made for a finances of simply $3 million, Upgrade was a essential and business hit when it launched in theaters, taking in round $17 million globally. Much of the film’s success might be attributed to an intriguing and well timed premise, exploring a future the place expertise and biology have been mixed to permit computerized human augmentation. Predictably, this establishment quickly unravels, turning Upgrade into an efficient action-thriller and a sly critique of society’s relationship with expertise. Ideas like these are maybe greatest suited to exploration throughout a number of tales. However, regardless of the tantalizing potential, it’s for the very best that Upgrade 2 nonetheless hasn’t occurred.

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Plans For Upgrade 2 Have Been Discussed Since 2018

Although it would seem to be Upgrade is considerably inert following the primary film, the truth is that plans for a follow-up have been on the desk because the first movie’s launch. Despite initially being supposed as a standalone undertaking, the film’s optimistic essential and business reception created a possibility for a sequel. In an interview with Fandom to advertise Whannell’s 2020 film The Invisible Man, producer Jason Blum confirmed:

I’d love an
Upgrade
sequel. I’ll say that we haven’t put it to mattress but. We haven’t any instant plans, however
Upgrade
could be very a lot on my thoughts — and on Leigh’s thoughts as properly.

In addition to tentative sequel plans, Whannell has already expanded the Upgrade universe. In an interview with Today Online (additionally to advertise The Invisible Man), the writer-director confirmed that the 2 movies are literally set in the identical universe, with the Cobalt firm showing in each. This exhibits that, whereas Upgrade 2 nonetheless hasn’t occurred, the story’s setting continues to be rising.

Why A TV Show Is A Better Idea Than Upgrade 2

While a cinematic follow-up could also be a while away, concrete plans are in place to make a sequel TV collection to Upgrade. In 2020, Deadline Hollywood reported that:

Upgrade
the collection picks up a couple of years after the occasions of the movie and broadens the universe with an developed model of STEM and a brand new host – imagining a world during which the federal government repurposes STEM to assist curb felony exercise.

The TV format will make this Upgrade very totally different from the theatrical authentic.

However, regardless of the disadvantages of TV by way of scale, there are a number of the reason why this method is best than one other film. The prolonged format will permit Upgrade to totally wrestle with its key themes of particular person autonomy and the hazards of AI, with out having to compromise because of runtime. There’s additionally the truth that Upgrade‘s warnings about sentient AI appear more and more prescient, with the delays solely serving to the undertaking join with its viewers. The lack of an official Upgrade sequel could also be irritating, however the scenario might assist the TV follow-up change into a fair greater success.

Sources: Fandom, Today Online, Deadline Hollywood

Upgrade

Director

Leigh Whannell

Release Date

June 1, 2018

Cast

Betty Gabriel , Logan Marshall-Green , Harrison Gilbertson

Runtime

100minutes