Usually studios wait to see how a movie will perform before deciding whether or not to order a sequel. However, in recent years this has become less commonplace with blockbusters adapted from existing properties, but even outside that sphere, there's the occasional surprise. Case in point, Mark Wahlberg's next movie, Mile 22, doesn't come out for another two months, but STX Entertainment has already decided to give a sequel the green light. There's no word yet on if it will be called Mile 22 2 or Mile 23 yet.
Black List writer Umair Aleem has been hired to write the Mile 22 sequel script. Graham Roland and Lea Carpenter penned the first movie. In addition to being featured on the 2017 Black List for his action movie Kate, Aleem was also tapped to write Danger Girl, based on the 1990s comic book series of the same name. No plot details were revealed about the Mile 22 sequel in THR's report, so those of you wondering what this project will be about, you will have to wait and see Mile 22 before you get an inkling about where the next installment could go.
Mile 22 follows Mark Wahlberg's James Silva, an elite American intelligence officer who leads the tactical team of operatives known as Overwatch, being tasked with secretly moving a police officer who has sensitive information out of a foreign country. The movie's cast also includes Lauren Cohan, Iko Uwais and Ronda Rousey. Mile 22 marks Wahlberg's fourth collaboration with director Peter Berg (they previously worked together on Lone Survivor, Deepwater Horizon and Patriots Day), though it remains to be seen if Berg will be back to helm the sequel. Rather than shoot on a Hollywood lot like most blockbusters, Berg and the cast and crew conducted principal photography in Bogota, Colombia.
Initially, it may sound weird at first to move ahead with a sequel to Mile 22, a movie that isn't based off an existing property and hasn't even been reviewed yet, apparently it's always been the plan for this movie to be the first installment in a franchise. Following Mile 22's release, STXsurreal will put out The Kiev Exchange, a short-form, live action VR series that follows Ground Branch, the CIA's elusive paramilitary force, being sent to negotiate a hostage exchange in a public square, only to have to fight their way out of an ambush. While The Kiev Exchange is clearly being set up as a spinoff set in this fictional universe, presumably Mile 22's sequel will have closer ties to the movie that's kicking all of this off.
Mile 22 will be released in theaters on August 17, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for continuing coverage. In the meantime, feel free to browse through our 2018 release schedule to learn what other movies are coming out later this year.
