Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters wasn’t well-received by critics, but it did well enough at the box office to mean that talk of a sequel quickly emerged following its release. With a budget of only $50 million, the so-so $55 million the movie earned in North America was bolstered by an impressive $170.6 million overseas.
However, it’s been quite some time since we’ve heard anything about the follow-up to the first movie, but writer and director Tommy Wirkola (who is currently promoting Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead) recently offered the following update in regards to the status of the project, revealing that the script has been finished.
“I’ve written the script for it. I’ve given it to Paramount and it’s up to them now. But I don’t know what’s going to happen. Jeremy [Renner] is so busy these days, I don’t know how they’re going to juggle all of that, but it’s up to [Paramount]. We’ll see. Hopefully, I’ll get to do another film first. They really liked the script I gave them. The first film was a learning curve for me working in the studio system and the script I wrote for the original was so different. We ended up taking a lot out and altering stuff that first time. I’m smarter now. I tried taking what I learned and still delivered a sequel script that’s an R-rated action film.”
So, the studio like it, but Jeremy Renner is indeed a very busy man and it’s hard to imagine the American Hustle and Avengers: Age of Ultron star wanting to reprise the role of Hansel after the reception to the first.
There’s no world on whether Gemma Arterton would return, but if Renner doesn’t, they would have to recast at least one half of the witch slaying brother and sister duo. It should be interesting to see how this one comes together regardless! Do you want a sequel to Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters?
