firstshowing.net
by Ethan Anderton
With just under two weeks until the robot boxing film hits theaters on October 7th (be sure to check out the kick-ass trailer and my set visit report), apparently a sequel to DreamWorks and Disney's Real Steel is already planned. While the decision to move forward on the project is certainly being reserved until after the the box office numbers come in, director Shawn Levy told The Playlist that he's definitely going to come back to produce and direct the sequel, and also Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo (who plays the estranged son in the film) and Evangeline Lily are all a big part of the sequel's story. Plenty more details below!
Apparently DreamWorks, including executive producer Steven Spielberg, has plenty of faith in the film simply because of some successful test screenings. Levy said:
“Even ‘Night at the Museum’ didn’t test like this. People were cheering in a movie theater. The last time I remember that happening was in ‘Rocky III’ with Clubber Lang or even against Drago in ‘Rocky IV.’ So we got that kind of visceral reaction from audiences and the studio not only took the bullish move of developing a sequel and asking me to sign on but then also didn’t deny it when it leaked in the press. That was a show of confidence that hopefully we will reward.”
So considering how much of the story follows the redemption of a father and his estranged son over the backdrop of a robot boxing league, exactly where might the story of a sequel head. Beware of some potential spoilers, as Levy revealed:
"It is the same characters, the next chapter. It delves into the fallout of the new fame and money that the Kentons are going to have as a result of Zeus-Atom fight. It also delves into something I thought was a cool aspect of the movie that I didn’t have time to get into, which is the class warfare between the underground unsanctioned world of robot boxing and the monetized corporately funded league. The truth is, it’s not unlike the way boxing saw its popularity contested with the rise of a more violent, less rule-bound MMA.”
Of course, it's anyone's guess as to how soon the sequel might come together. Not only does it look like Levy will be shooting Frankenstein in the spring of 2012, but Jackman will be busy shooting Les Miserables around that same time and following it up with The Wolverine later in the year. So as far as giving a timetable on when we might see Real Steel 2 come together, Levy says, "I need to wait and see what shakes out with Hugh’s schedule and mine. But we are both committed to the sequel if this movie is a hit.” This kind of faith in a blockbuster like this is always good to hear, and when my review for the film comes sometime soon, I think audiences will be surprised to learn just how this film has turned out. Stay tuned.
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