There’s already a sequel in the works for the upcoming Cliffhanger reboot, months before the reboot even premieres, according to Deadline. No word yet on how far into production that sequel is, or whether the new Cliffhanger‘s cast and director will return. The upcoming reboot, a re-imagining of the 1993 Sylvester Stallone action thriller, stars Lily James and Pierce Brosnan and is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who is known for suspenseful thrillers like Orphan and The Shallows. The story is based on a concept by A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night writer and director Ana Lily Amirpour, with the latest version of the screenplay penned by Melanie Toast.
Stallone was initially attached to the project, which was being promoted as a legacy sequel that would have seen him reprise his role; that project took this new direction, and Stallone is no longer attached. The latest film is described as a “father-daughter take on Die Hard.”
The official logline reads:
“A mountain guide and his daughter’s alpine climbing business in the Italian Alps faces a tragic event, forcing them to confront and overcome adversity as dangerous foes emerge, unleashing chaos.”
James and Brosnan lead the cast as daughter-father duo Naomi and Ray. The ensemble also includes Nell Tiger Free, Franz Rogowski, Assaad Bouab, Suzy Bemba, and Bruno Gouery.
The original 1993 movie, directed by Renny Harlin, was a major box office success, grossing $255 million worldwide against a $65 million budget. It followed Stallone’s Gabe Walker, a seasoned climber and former mountain rescue ranger haunted by a failed rescue attempt, as he gets embroiled in a high-stakes heist in the Rocky Mountains. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including one for Best Visual Effects.
Why People Should Be Excited About the New ‘Cliffhanger’
The news that a sequel is already in early development signals a high level of confidence from its producers, Rocket Science and Thank You Pictures. The filmmakers shot on location in the Dolomites in Italy, using large-format cameras. This commitment to practical, on-location shooting, rather than relying solely on CGI, should appeal to fans of the original movie’s stunts and visuals.
Speaking of commitment, James talked about her intensive training for the project with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year: she revealed that she “did five hours of climbing a day for many weeks,” “did all [her] own climbing,” and was “pounding press-ups between every take” to get stronger for the demanding role. James also shared her pride in the movie, saying:
“It is such a cool reimagining, and while it’s really unexpected at times, it keeps all the gripping glory of the original, I hope.”
When you take James’ comments and commitment, and stack that with a talented ensemble cast and a director known for building suspense, there’s reason to be excited (and hopeful that the reboot will stay true to the original).
Cliffhanger is currently in post-production, but there is no official release date yet. Filmmakers are aiming for a theatrical release, including an IMAX element. No word yet on when we should expect the sequel.
Cliffhanger
- Director
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Jaume Collet-Serra
- Writers
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Mark Bianculli
- Producers
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Neal H. Moritz, Toby Jaffe, Lars Sylvest, Thorsten Schumacher
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
