Alita: Battle Angel 2 gets another hopeful update from director Robert Rodriguez. Released in 2019, Rodriguez’s Alita: Battle Angel is based on Japanese manga Battle Angel Alita created by Yukito Kishiro. The film performed only modestly well at the box office, but would eventually find a passionate audience in the years after its release. Enthusiasm for a sequel now remains high, and both Rodriguez and producer James Cameron have expressed interest in returning for an additional installment.
Now, as the wait for news regarding Alita: Battle Angel 2 continues, Rodriguez now provides a new update in a recent interview with TheWrap. While not revealing any more information about the planned follow-up movie, the director affirms that it remains top of mind for him and Cameron. Check out Rodriguez’s full comment below:
“Yeah, Jim and I always talk about how we’d love to do another “Alita.” That studio [20th Century] was bought by another studio [Disney]. They’re starting to make movies now. But that for a while 20th Century wasn’t making any of their movies. I think now you’re seeing a few rolling out. We would love to.”
What’s Been Said About Alita: Battle Angel 2 So Far
While earning over $405 million at the box office is certainly no small feat, it’s not the kind of performance that ignites a fire to make a sequel, especially considering Alita: Battle Angel‘s budget is pegged at around $170 million. As Rodriguez mentions, a sequel was also complicated by Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
Recently, however, there has been renewed passion from Rodriguez and Cameron to get an Alita: Battle Angel sequel off the ground. Chances improved considerably with the smash success of Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water, and the filmmaker even brought up the prospect of making Alita: Battle Angel 2 while on the film’s promotional circuit. In fact, Cameron and Rodriguez even jokingly swore a blood oath with each other last December to get the film made.
Following a number of smaller updates in subsequent months, including the reveal that Cameron had outlined Alita: Battle Angel 2 and 3‘s stories, a big piece of news dropped this past July when the filmmaker explained why he was selling his California mansion. Cameron revealed that he was selling the property because much of the work on the Avatar sequels was taking place in New Zealand and that “on the new Alita: Battle Angel films, I’ll be working in Austin.” While Cameron and Rodriguez are clearly optimistic, Disney has not yet confirmed that Alita: Battle Angel 2 is happening.
