Stop callingFace/Off 2a reboot or remake, as director Adam Wingard insists that the sequel is going to be the “definitive follow-up” to the original. This month, it was reported that Wingard would be directing a newFace/Offmovie using a screenplay co-written with Simon Barrett for Paramount Pictures. Neal Moritz will produce the movie with David Permut executive producing.
When the news first broke, many had taken the announcement to mean that Wingard would reimagineFace/Offas a reboot of the original movie. At the time,Adam Wingardclarified on Instagram that he would never remakeFace/Off, stating that he was “writing a direct SEQUEL” with Barrett. Speaking with IGN at Fan Fest 2021, theGodzilla vs. Kongdirector doubled down on these comments, making it very clear thatFace/Off 2will pick up where the first movie left off.
“I would never make a remake ofFace/Off. I would never make a reboot. And I’ve seen a lot of people, even after I said that this is a direct sequel, they keep calling it a reboot hybrid sequel or remake hybrid sequel. It’s none of that. This isFace/Off 2. And I can’t say what that means exactly, but this is either going to be thedefinitive follow-upto that movie and everything that entails, or I’m not going to make it, because everything’s got to line up perfectly.”
While continuing to stress thatFace/Off 2is a sequel andnota reboot or remake, Wingard also revealed that the screenplay is nearly complete.
“The script’s going really good, Simon [Barrett] and I are almost finished. And Simon, who I worked with onYou’re NextandThe Guest, we’ve been working a lot over quarantine, and this was our main project.Face/Off 2. That’s what it is It isFace/Off 2, and I’ll just leave it at that.”
You might have noticed that Wingard is deliberately stopping short of divulging any specific details, such as whether original star John Travolta might return as Sean Archer. As Nicolas Cage’s character died in the original movie, he seems less likely to come back, though it’s possible that Cage could still return as a new character who’s had Castor Troy’s face printed over his own. Thepossibilities are endless, but in any case, it would seem that whatever happens will tie directly into the events of the firstFace/Off.
The originalFace/Offwas written by Mike Werb and Michael Colleary and directed by John Woo. It follows anFBI agent and a terrorist who assume each other’s identities. Despite its bizarre premise, the movie works very well, earning widespread acclaim and even an Academy Award nomination. Hoping to recapture some of that success, Paramount has been looking to make a newFace/Offmovie for years, and it now finally appears to be making some real traction with Wingard on board.
A release date hasn’t yet been set forFace/Off 2. This news comes to us fromIGN.
