A Boston-based website snagged a few quotes from Mark Wahlberg and writer William Monahan that suggest a sequel to The Departed is already in development.
The production was rumored to begin filming back in 2008, but faced constant delays and was eventually forgotten. Many will wonder the direction of the sequel, considering most of the cast was killed in the 2007 Best Picture winner.
However, according to Beantown the sequel will make its projected 2012 release date. While the evidence is legitimate, we remain cautiously optimistic.
Back in 2007, writer William Monahan discussed the potential direction for the sequel to The Departed, which was based on the Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs.
“I read the prequel and sequel to ‘Infernal Affairs’ for the first time a couple of weeks ago and there wasn’t anything I could use in Boston situation. When I say that I couldn’t use ‘Infernal Affairs 2 and 3′ I’m not criticizing either film, I’m saying that ‘The Departed’ now points in its own direction. I know how the picture would open. With The Departed Tango and snow falling on the Boston Commons. I know every scene in the picture.”
Monahan’s confidence in the story is a good starting point for a sequel. But the key to its success may rely heavily on the return of key actors left alive after the conclusion of The Departed.
Mark Wahlberg, who you’ll be seeing soon in The Other Guys, played Staff Sgt. Dignam in the first Departed film, and has long been considered the main character for a sequel. When asked about a potential reprisal, he was refreshingly up-front about it:
“They told me they wanted to try to do it and I said, ‘Well, I enjoyed playing the character.’ I mean, this guy [Dignam] doesn’t give a s**t about anything. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks. He just does what he does, he does it the way he wants to do it. And I love that. I don’t think that people who are borderline sane have to be bad. It was just the way I was acting throughout the movie, and then you realize that he’s one of the only stand-up guys. He avenges the death of someone he doesn’t even like just because it’s the right thing to do. There’s a dignity to him.”
Wahlberg’s affinity for the character will go a long way in keeping him on board for the lead role. But there were still a few major players when the credits rolled – including Alec Baldwin’s Capt. Ellerby.
According to Walhberg, Robert De Niro has been asked to portray a corrupt State House politician. This would play nicely with the enigmatic gold dome featured in The Departed – the Massachusetts State House, giving Matt Damon’s long stares in the original some added meaning.
One key component to the success or failure of a Departed sequel is the involvement of director Martin Scorsese. Beantown also claims, “Scorsese has signed off on the untitled sequel,” but I remain skeptical of his role. The legendary director has never made a sequel of any of his films.
Take it all in and believe what you want, but the quotes speak for themselves. It is clear Wahlberg and Monahan are keen on a sequel, but it takes more than two for a successful follow-up to the Academy Award-winning movie.
How do you feel about a sequel to The Departed? Do you believe the rumors or is it just talk? Discuss the possibilities in the comments section below.
Source: Beantown (registration required) via Before The Trailer
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NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
NO. NO. NO. NO. NO!
I don’t think we need a direct sequel. But Dignam and Ellerby could return in supporting roles. They could be the guys that anchor the films in the same universe.
But for the live of Zod don’t kill off Dignam.
Dear god no. This was my all time film and I a sequal would be a slap in the face to the originals legacy. Mark Whalberg was way low on the list for what made this movie great. I’m not a fan of Maky Mark and as far as I’m concerned he has had one good film. The plot emotional depth along with Leo, Daemon and Jack were what made this film great. They died and so did any chance for a good sequal. Leave it alone i have never paid money so that I can se Marky Mark or the idiot Baldwin. They are ditractors for my interest in a film and they are all that was left alive.
,another desperate lame film that doesn’t need to be made.
I thought Departed was overrated. Not way overrated but enough to not watch it a second time.
i didnt care for it much either, Infernal Affairs was far far superior. and marty can thank hong kong cinema for his oscar fot that film….
Never seen the original, but the departed deserved all the praise it got. by far my favorite. crime drama. well acted, amazingly shot, perectly paced.
Mark’s been lookin for his “thing” for a while, but I don’t think he should look here. Leave it be…
a) I hated The Departed.
b) I hate Mark Whalberg’s supposed “acting”
Combined, this makes more some sad, sad news.
and whay you “hated” the movie
You suck dude……..it is one of the best movies till date
Sounds more of a spinoff to me, then again this would still be unnecesary because the characters who survived the first film are not interseting enough to have their own story told. Maybe Vera Farmiga, I always wondered who the father of the baby was.
Thanks for the spoiler warning. Appreciate your courtesy.
Spoiler warning are you serious?
By the way Bruce Willis was dead the entire time and Darth Vader is Lukes father.
Seriously at some point we have to be able to talk about a movie with out a spoiler warning. I think once it’s old enough that it can be aired on TV u lose the spoiler tag.
Haa haa!
I have to agree with Daniel on that one.
Yea, man. It’s been out for almost 4 years.
Seriously. if you haven’t seen it by now odds are you never will. and if you haven’t seen it what the piss are you doing reading about the sequel.
A sequel is pointless. It would be especially pointless without Scorsese, but with Scorsese it would still be pointless. DiCaprio, Damon, and Nicholson were all amazing. Without them there is no future for the story.
Not for me, thank you. The Departed was good but it doesn’t need a sequel and doesn’t really lend itself to one either.
The Departed doesn’t need a sequel…
Trying to get some more gold from one of scorsese best award winning movies. I agree the departed doesnt need a sequel but thats the age we live in with reboots,sequels,and prequels
They cannot be serious. Leave the film alone, all the major characters are dead; Wahlberg’s role was minimal. Scorcese will NOT come back for sure, there is no way he will compromise his artistic integrity and nor should he. Wahlberg as the lead should be enough for Scorcese not to come back. I sincererly hope this film does not get made because the Departed stands as one of my favorite films; one that I can watch over and over again
this film is close to perfect by itself. Considering the cast in the first and then to go into a second with Wahlberg leading and Baldwin supporting. and im guessing the plot being Dignam becomes some sort of rogue vigilante chasing more corrupt people this time taking on a supposedly untouchable de niro so he has to bend the rules “boston style”. i would love for this too work. but the nickleson and dicaprio and damon and Scorsese roles in this film made it and not having them in it, just sounds like a tango and cash remake
Marky Mark is the weakest link in every movie he takes part.
No point in expanding on The Departed storyline, it will only make it yet another good cop/bad cop rehash of a hundred other movies and assuredly a “lesser” story-telling experience than The Departed.
The thing about a Departed sequel is I think it’s contingent on if another Monahan project starts in Boston first. For instance if “The Chaser” goes into production they may put the Departed sequel on the back burner. The same goes for Monahans Whitey Bulger film that is also in development. Whatever the case may be we will almost certainly see at least one go into production either this year or next year. It’s really hard to say. As you might know these production co’s are quite unpredictable. Knight and Day came out of nowhere last year. You really can never tell when they’ll start.
of course if there is a sequel,they should have wahlberg back-his character represented the balance as well as chaos of that film..his character was seen to be an uncaring character but in the end was the main player in the game…what was also very cool was the all male cast of the film ranging from 3 generations of actors who came from the street..i think if they indeed do another film they should bring in another ensemble cast..here’s a list:
Christopher walken
Al pacino
Robert DeNiro
Edward Norton
Johnny depp
Colin farrel
Colm meaney
sean patrick flanery
norman readus
paul bettany
robert downey jr
ben affleck
russel crowe
harvey keitel
joe pants
tommy lee jones
josh brolin
One thing I always remember from Departed is the scene where the cops are monitoring the drug deal. Alec Baldwin’s shirt goes from a small sweat stain to a huge sweat stain back to a small one.
Anyone else see that?
You know..this is one of those films that you can make another one but you shouldn’t make another one. The story has been told and leave at that. The Departed was a great movie. Certain films just don’t need sequels, especially ones that are more real life driven.. Whatever. If they do, it can work, if not, cool the story is over and lets move on. Next thing you know they want to make a Brokeback Mountain 2 or There Will Be Blood..Again( just a joke but I mean seriously..some movies just need to be left alone).
I’m trying to figure out how they can make a sequel to a film were every main character dies, unless they make a prequel, like the “Infernal Affairs” series the Scorsese film was based upon. But if Scorsese does return at the helm, I am confident that he will do so for the right reasons… and, yeah, I would love to see De Niro under his direction once again, after all this time!
I believe it’s just a rumor. the lead characters (damon, DiCaprio) had died so what would it be without them?? they talked about it in 2007 and still nothing officially confirmed until now. so, it’s just a talk, ideas of some people whom really like the movie.
You really make it appear so easy along with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually one thing which I believe I’d by no means understand. It seems too complicated and extremely huge for me. I’m looking forward in your next publish, I’ll try to get the dangle of it!
I honestly think “marky” mark wahlberg is a great actor, just went and seen contraband and he did an excellent job, as to the sequel, I agree leave it be…
We had to change the ending.
But Robert DeNiro could make it work. It would be a challenge to make the movie without Marty though