Almost a year after they conquered the Oscars with 2022’s “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” filmmaking duo The Daniels— Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert— are gearing up to make their next film, and this one is set up at Universal. Unfortunately, no details have been made other than that it’s an “Untitled Event Film,” likely meaning some blockbuster-sized venture or franchise or considerable scope, and it’s been set for June 12, 2026.
READ MORE: The Daniels On The Cinematic Miracle Of ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ [Interview]
But it’s the first film from the long-term pact The Daniels made with Universal in the summer of 2022, long before “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” which was a massive-sized Oscar-winning smash. That said, when the deal was made, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” had become a massive hit for the filmmakers, passing $100 million at the global box office and becoming the biggest commercial success for indie distributors A24. Clearly, Universal saw something in the inventive duo, also known for 2016’s “Swiss Army Man” (Scheinert also solo directed “The Death of Dick Long” in 2019, between the two movies).
“Daniels are creators who have evolved their craft with a distinct vision and singular voice that is unmistakable across the spectrum of content vying for viewer’s attention,” Donna Langley, chairman of Universal Film Group, said at the time. “Their films are remarkably theatrical, and with only two original projects under their belts, they’ve merely scratched the surface of what they are capable of as filmmakers. We’re grateful they’ve chosen to go on their journey with us.”
Nominated for a whopping eleven Academy Awards, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” cleaned up at the 2023 Oscars, winning Best Picture, Best Director(s), and Best Screenplay for the duo, including cleaning up in all the acting categories save for one.
Made on a tiny $15 million dollar budget, the inventive movie went on to gross nearly $145 million worldwide. Several months after they signed their deal, they told The Hollywood Reporter about their taste: “We love to chase things that could almost be a catastrophe,” said Kwan. Scheinert added, “We thrive on being told no, in moderation,” and said, “I am nervous about having a budget that makes us not have those tough conversations.”
While event film suggests something huge or a franchise, don’t be surprised if the project is an original, just with a lot of big, surreal ambition and a much bigger budget to boot.