So far, there’s really nothing bad you can say about the success of “Barbie.” Greta Gerwig’s comedy film has shattered records and become the runaway hit of 2023, leading a much-needed resurgence for the struggling cinemas. However, “Barbie” has had some unintentional consequences, including throwing a wrench in the development of a sequel to another popular film, “Free Guy.”
In an interview with Collider, “Free Guy” filmmaker Shawn Levy explained why the success of “Barbie” has made it much more difficult to work on a sequel to his popular film starring Ryan Reynolds. You may remember that “Free Guy” was a surprise success for Reynolds and Levy when it was released in 2021. Sure, there were people expecting big things from the big-budget film about a video game character learning about his situation and trying to break free of the bonds that hold him captive in the fictional world, but being released in 2021 made it a box office uncertainty. However, the film succeeded and it appears that everyone, including Reynolds, Levy, and the studio, wanted a sequel to happen. The problem is that we now live in a post-“Barbie” world, and there needs to be something special if you want to tell the story of a fictional character becoming self-aware.
“I think it is definitely not assured. We love ‘Free Guy’ and the love for ‘Free Guy’ that has kind of resonated in aftershocks, if you will, in the last couple of years. That’s been thrilling to Ryan [Reynolds] and I,” explained Levy. “We are developing a sequel, but the truth is that you now have ‘Barbie’ that has obviously left a mark about a character in a fictional world who comes to self-awareness. So, we’re only gonna make ‘Free Guy 2’ if it’s different than the first movie and if it’s different from other movies.”
So, if you asked Levy back in 2021, the filmmaker would have probably almost guaranteed a “Free Guy” sequel would happen. However, just two years later, that prospect has seemingly dwindled. Obviously, that doesn’t mean Disney will forget about the successful first film and be too scared to make a sequel after “Barbie.” But it’s clear that Levy and the rest of the people involved want to make sure they have a specific point of view for a sequel and not just make one for the easy cash grab. In that sense, this is good news.
Now, there are likely other challenges facing a potential “Free Guy 2.” Reynolds and Levy are two of the biggest names in films and TV right now. Levy has his hand in a number of separate pots, including reteaming with Reynolds for “Deadpool 3.” So, there might be more logistical hurdles in the way of “Free Guy 2” than the creative issues.
