Paramount Announces Second Sequels to ‘A Quiet Place’ and ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’
The sequels, and a ‘Sonic’ spin-off series were announced during a big investor day for the studio.
(L to R) Knuckles (Idris Elba) and Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in 'Sonic The Hedgehog 2' from Paramount Pictures and Sega.
Paramount saw success with ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ in 2020, one the few movies to do real business during the pandemic. So, it’s perhaps not particularly shocking that it would keep that train chugging along with not just a spin-off (which has already been announced) but also now a new direct sequel.
John Krasinski, who co-wrote, directed and starred in the smash hit 2018 original film (and wrote, directed and cameoed in 2020’s sequel), revealed the news at Paramount’s Investor Day, which saw the studio announce a whole raft of incoming movies and TV series, including a fourth ‘Star Trek’ film featuring Chris Pine and the crew.
Krasinski declined to divulge much in the way of details, including who might be writing and directing this new film. Yet given that it serves as a continuation of the story from the first two movies, it’s a fair bet that he’ll be back behind the camera.
And it should also point to the return of Krasinski’s real-life wife, Emily Blunt as Evelyn Abbott, still heroically guiding her family (including Millicent Simmonds’ Regan and Noah Jupe’s Marcus) through a terrifying world that is beset by blind aliens with a keen sense of sound, who are only too happy to savage any human they track down.
All that we really know about the new movie for now is that Paramount is targeting a 2025 theatrical release, which makes sense given Krasinski and Blunt’s busy schedules. The former has fantasy adventure ‘If’ in the works now, which he once again wrote and will direct, co-starring with Ryan Reynolds and old ‘Office’ cast mate Steve Carell. Blunt, meanwhile, is filming Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ and has a few potential movies on her future work list.
(L to R) John Krasinski and Emily Blunt in 'A Quiet Place.' Photo Courtesy of Paramount.
The spin-off, meanwhile, is further along in the process despite switching directors. Though ‘Midnight Special’s Jeff Nichols was attached at one point to write and direct the movie, that job now falls to ‘Pig’ director Michael Sarnoski.
He’s working on a story set in the ‘Quiet Place’ world but featuring new characters in a different location. That movie is due in theaters next year.
And that’s not the only big screen sequel news that the studio announced. Even before ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ arrives in April, a third film is in “active development”. Which does rather have us picturing the writers sitting around playing lots of ‘Sonic’ while trying to come up with ideas for another movie featuring the speedy character.
Much like the ‘Quiet Place’ news, details are scare, though actor Ben Schwartz, who provides the Hedgehog’s voice, has already hit social media to confirm he’s involved. We’ll wait and see whether director Jeff Fowler returns and if Jim Carrey’s big villain Dr. Robotnik makes it out of the second film.
In related ‘Sonic’ news, Paramount also unveiled a spin-off TV live-action series featuring the character of Knuckles, the popular character from the games who will be introduced to the movie series with this year’s sequel. Idris Elba voices him, and the actor is reportedly returning for the spin-off show, which will appear on streaming service Paramount Plus next year.
‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ races into theaters on April 8th.
