Pretty much since Zombieland hit theaters in 2009, there has been talk of a sequel. At various points the movie has gone from seeming like it was mere months away from shooting to looking like it would probably never happen, and up to this point, it hasn't. But like one of the undead that refuses to die, Zombieland 2 persists. Now with Zombieland scribes Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick's work showing up in this weekend's Deadpool 2, the possibility has once again been raised that the sequel may finally come to fruition in the not-too-distant future. Paul Wernick teased that Zombieland 2 may arrive just in time for the original's 10th anniversary, saying:
The hope is that we're shooting that thing early 2019 for an October of '19 release. With the original cast, by the way.
That's still over a year away, but we've waited this long, so what's a little bit longer if we finally get more brilliant horror comedy. I don't know why, but it seems like the turnaround time on reboots and long-awaited sequels these days is right around that decade mark. It would be rather fitting to have a new Zombieland arrive during the Halloween month to coincide with the original's 10th anniversary. It is important to note, though, that this is not definitive and is more 'hope' and 'may be' at this point than it is any sort of guarantee. However, the Zombieland writers sound optimistic that at long last, Zombieland 2 will happen. Just don't go counting your Twinkies quite yet.
A proper Zombieland 2 is nothing without the cast, and Paul Wernick also offered some positive signs on that front, telling Vulture that the original cast will all be on board when shooting possibly commences next year. Zombieland 2 isn't worth having without Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita and Little Rock and the original actors playing them (as the Amazon series proved), so this is great news for fans. In the time since Zombieland's release, Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg have both scored Academy Award nominations, and Emma Stone has won an Oscar for Best Actress, so Zombieland 2 will have a lot to boast about with this talented cast.
There is always the question of how much time is too much time for sequels, especially those in the comedy genre. The Anchorman, Zoolander and Dumb and Dumber sequels attest to this, yet I'm optimistic that Zombieland 2 can be a success. The first film was a hit, earning $102 million at the box office on a $23.6 million budget. We don't get nearly enough R-rated action comedies these days, and I imagine the fandom for Zombieland has only grown over the years. Also, public acceptance of R-rated fare such as Zombieland has only increased in the time since its release, ironically, in part due to Deadpool.
With the writers and cast back on board, hopefully Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer, who is directing this fall's Venom, will also return for the sequel to keep the winning formula intact. We'll keep you updated as Zombieland 2 moves closer to becoming a reality. For all the latest movie news and why you should always limber up, stay tuned to CinemaBlend.
