Edge of Tomorrow wasn’t an immediate commercial success when it was released in theaters back in 2014, but the Tom Cruise-headlined sci-fi action/thriller eventually grossed $370 million worldwide (on a $178 million budget), thanks to a strong critical reception and equally positive word of mouth from filmgoers. It was reported in 2015 that Cruise had begun discussing a potential sequel with his key collaborators on Edge of Tomorrow, but there haven’t been any major updates to report on the project since then – what with Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman having since moved on to other projects (after he re-teamed with Cruise for the upcoming thriller Mena), much like Cruise and his costar Emily Blunt have done too.
Jump to the present and it appears that Edge of Tomorrow 2 has found its screenwriters – an important step on the film’s journey to eventually landing an official green-light from Warner Bros. Pictures (something that seems likely to happen given the studio’s current focus on developing more franchise films). It was initially reported that Edge of Tomorrow co-screenwriter/producer Christopher McQuarrie – who is also currently Cruise’s go-to film collaborator – is attached to direct the sequel, but McQuarrie has since clarified that this is not the case.
Deadline initially reported that McQuarrie, whom Cruise pitched his Edge of Tomorrow 2 story idea to (along with Liman) back in 2015, is lined up to direct the currently-untitled Edge of Tomorrow sequel, with screenwriting pair Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse now onboard to write the script. McQuarrie has since taken to Twitter to clarify that while he will be involved with Edge of Tomorrow 2 (presumably as a co-writer and/or producer), Liman has dibs on directing the sequel; as the Oscar-winner McQuarrie put it, “there’s no Edge without Doug.”
As for Shrapnel and Waterhouse: their previous writing credits include the 2016 Jesse Owens biopic Race and the true story-inspired Halle Berry drama Frankie & Alice. The pair having also been carrying out script rewrites for the developing assassin thriller The Gray Man, a film that does have McQuarrie onboard to direct (with Charlize Theron headlining).
Edge of Tomorrow ends on a note that sees all of the film’s major plot threads tied up, though there is one obvious matter that could serve as the lead-in for a sequel – namely, that the film ends with military public affairs officer-turned warrior Bill Cage (Cruise) having seemingly regained the ability to “reset the day,” after he killed and then inadvertently absorbed the blood of the alien Mimics’ hive mastermind (a.k.a. the Omega). Cruise has made it known that the plan is to bring back Blunt as the deadly soldier and fellow onetime day-resetter, Rita Vrataski for Edge of Tomorrow 2, which makes sense; not only because Cruise and Blunt have good screen chemistry in the first movie, but also because Rita remains one of the few people who knows about the Mimics’ ability to relive a day and gain new combat experience.
An Edge of Tomorrow sequel will pose many of the same narrative challenges (and then some) as its predecessor, but with the original team behind the first movie set to return – plus the addition of a screenwriting duo whose previous film work has been of the ambitious variety that would benefit from the guidance of storytellers like McQuarrie and Liman – there is far reason to think that Edge of Tomorrow 2 could turn out well. The project would also extend Cruise’s ongoing push to further develop not only his established film properties (what with the sequels Mission: Impossible 6 and Jack Reacher: Never Look Back due to arrive over the next few years), but also branch out and develop new franchises for himself (see his role in the upcoming The Mummy reboot).
NEXT: Edge of Tomorrow Ending Explained
We’ll bring you more information on Edge of Tomorrow 2 as it becomes available.
