Christopher McQuarrie cranked out a killer script for Doug Liman’s sci-fi actioner Edge of Tomorrow. And while that brainy blockbuster might have struck out at the box office, that’s not stopped its devour fanbase from demanding a follow-up. With McQuarrie now in a strong position to deliver the goods after helming this summer’s Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation, he’s slowly firming up plans for a sequel.
The original saw Tom Cruise play a militant soldier in a war against a seemingly unstoppable alien race. It scored praise for its superb premise and stunning visual assault. But, as is often the case, the box office can often determine the likelihood of future outings. Last we heard, McQuarrie was keen to return, but only if leading stars Cruise and Emily Blunt were also onboard. Well, with Cruise apparently pitching a killer idea to Liman, McQuarrie and Blunt, it looks like the cogs are whirring to get the movie into development.
In a talk with Collider – to coincide with the home video release of Rogue Nation – the director was asked about the Edge of Tomorrow follow-up. “We have the idea for the sequel locked and loaded,” he told the site, “I don’t know what I can say. I can only say it’s a going concern.” It’s not the definitive greenlight news fans might be hoping for, but it’s undoubtedly a step in the right direction.
At the moment, the pressure is on for McQuarrie to etch out a corking idea for the next Mission: Impossible movie, which is set to mark the return of Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson. “Look, we definitely have to raise the bar,” he added, with regards to the sixth installment, “we’ve got to do that every time. And we have an idea for one sequence in particular and it’s one we’re very, very excited about. It’s going to be incredibly challenging to do, and we’re very excited.”
Watch this space for more news on the Edge of Tomorrow sequel as it lands.