Morgan Freeman is in advanced talks to star in a Lucy spinoff series. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Luc Besson, Lucy premiered in 2014. The sci-fi action film stars Scarlett Johansson as the titular character that gains extraordinary abilities when a drug is absorbed into her bloodstream. The movie was a big box office success, grossing more than eleven times its budget of $39 million with a total that exceeded $463 million. From both audiences and critics though, the response was more mixed. Although the unique visuals of the movie received praise, in addition to Johansson’s performance, the plot of Lucy was derided as nonsensical and proved to be polarizing.
Still, given its financial success, there has been consistent talk about the future of Lucy and a potential sequel. Besson has expressed different feelings about a second installment over the years but largely maintained a lack of interest in the project. At one point, he noted that the story was not built for a follow-up. And though it had been rumored that the director was working on a script for Lucy 2, Besson clarified that these rumors were false. Now, almost a decade after the movie’s debut, the story will continue.
According to Variety, Morgan Freeman is in advanced negotiations to star in a Lucy spinoff series. If it moves forward, the actor would reprise his movie role as Professor Samuel Norman. EuropaCorp and Village Roadshow are partnering to produce the spinoff, which is currently keeping its plot details under wraps.
Can Scarlett Johansson Return In The Lucy Spinoff Show?
At this point, there is no news on whether Johansson will reprise her role as Lucy Miller for the spinoff. In the film’s wild ending, Johansson’s character survives in a way — but she becomes a part of everything around her, a part of technology as well because she can make use of her full brain power. Johansson’s involvement could also depend on whether the spinoff is a sequel, a prequel, or a retelling with a different actor portraying the character. It wouldn’t be the first time in recent memory that a complex sci-fi premise was distilled for a television show.
Limitless, a somewhat similar movie on the surface about the power of the brain and mind-altering drugs, was made into a CBS series. Bradley Cooper reprised his role from the film, appearing in a recurring capacity, but the show was canceled after just one season. It remains to be seen if the Lucy spinoff will fare any better and what narrative direction it goes in. Right now, it looks like the project is still in a relatively early stage of development.
