Although Adam Sandler is returning to the big screen later this year in Uncut Gems, another one of his rare dramatic turns, most of his work in recent years has gone up on Netflix thanks to a first-look deal, including Murder Mystery, which was released in June. That movie was a big enough success for the streaming platform that a sequel is now in development.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Murder Mystery scribe James Vanderbilt is in negotiations to pen Murder Mystery 2. As for Adam Sandler and co-lead Jennifer Aniston, the plan is to have both of them reprise their roles in the sequel, though no deals are set in place yet since the project is in the early stages. Still, considering Sandler’s arrangement with Netflix, one would imagine the chances of at least him returning are relatively strong.
Critically speaking, Murder Mystery received mixed reviews, ranking at 45% among critics and 39% among audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. That said, while Netflix is well known for not releasing viewership numbers to the public, it claimed that Murder Mystery was watched by almost 31 million households in its first 72 hours of availability. Assuming that’s true, it was one of Netflix’s biggest opening weekends ever, so it’s hardly surprising the company would want to make a sequel.
It’s possible that Murder Mystery could have done well for itself had it gotten a traditional theatrical release, but that’s a moot point now. Netflix is keen on delivering Murder Mystery 2, though because the project is in the early stages, it’ll be a while until it arrives on our small screens.
It’s also unclear if Kyle Newacheck would sit in the director’s chair again or if someone new would helm in his place. Newacheck had previously expressed interest in making Murder Mystery 2, though he acknowledged the chances of a sequel going forward would depend on if Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston wanted to do it. He also wasn’t too bothered by the negative reviews the first movie received, so maybe Netflix is also working to bring him back.
Pairing Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston back together for the first time since 2011’s Just Go With It, Murder Mystery followed Nick Spitz, a NYPD officer, and his wife Audrey, a hairdresser, going on a vacation to Europe and ending up on a yacht where, you guessed it, they get caught up in a murder investigation.
Murder Mystery also starred Luke Evans, Terence Stamp, Gemma Arterton and David Walliams, among many others. It earned three Teen’s Choice Awards nominations and four nominations at the upcoming People’s Choice Awards.
Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on Murder Mystery 2’s progress. For now, you can keep track of what’s heading to the silver screen for the rest of the year in our 2019 release schedule.
