If a high profile Netflix original movie is going to inspire a sequel, it usually needs a combination of critical acclaim and high viewership.
It’s no coincidence Extraction, Spenser Confidential, Murder Mystery, The Old Guard, Enola Holmes, and Army of the Dead have second installments in the works; after all, they each rank as one of the platform’s 10 most-watched exclusive films ever, The majority received reviews ranging from enthusiastic to giddy.
However, many were surprised when Ryan Reynolds, Michael Bay, and 83 million streams in four weeks wasn’t enough to get another 6 Underground the green light. Yet, Charlize Theron’s Old Guard sequel hired Victoria Mahoney to direct, meaning franchise fare.
We’re now hearing from sources — the same ones who told us Enola Holmes 2 was in the works long before it was officially confirmed — that Jason Momoa’s recent hit Sweet Girl could be next in line for multi-film treatment. Critically, the action thriller was widely panned and holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 19%, but it held onto the top spot on the most-watched list for a full week, so early data is hugely encouraging.
If you’ve seen the film, you’ll know a significant change of personnel is required, but star Isabel Merced revealed she’d jump at the chance to reprise her role as Rachel Cooper, which somehow managed to turn the title hero from the live-action Dora the Explorer adaptation into a convincing action hero.
Netflix continues to bet on sequel properties. If the four-week figures are high enough, then a second Sweet Girl could materialize sooner rather than later.