It seems the OASIS is one step closer to its big screen return. Four years after the announcement of a film sequel to Ready Player One, based on Ernest Cline’s novel of the same name, Steven Spielberg has confirmed his involvement in the project as a producer.
Speaking to Showbiz 411, the acclaimed filmmaker gave an update on his upcoming works, including Ready Player Two. “We’re in the discovery phase, trying to figure what’s next,” he said of it, adding that he’ll only be serving as producer. This marks a shift from his directorial duties for the first movie, which starred Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg, and Mark Rylance.
It should be noted that despite Cline’s announcement and Spielberg’s confirmation, Warner Bros. hasn’t given Ready Player Two the green light yet. Given the director’s general aversion to sequels (barring Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park), his return is a little surprising, even with a more hands-off role here.
Released in 2018, Ready Player One is set in a dystopian future where people use a virtual reality simulation known as the OASIS to escape reality. It featured a gamut of pop-culture Easter eggs, becoming a commercial success with a worldwide gross of over US$607 million. Should the sequel see the light of the day, it will have some big shoes to fill — and it won’t be an easy undertaking, as the novel had a widely negative critical reception compared to its predecessor.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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