Charlize Theron has seemingly confirmed that Atomic Blonde 2 is currently in development at Netflix. Atomic Blonde hit theaters in 2017, where it was met with a warm reception from critics and audiences alike. The film currently sits at a fresh 78 percent critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a heaping of praise directed at Theron's performance. Atomic Blonde was also a financial success, grossing $100 million worldwide against a budget of just $30 million and is even considered by many to be one of the best action films of the decade.
Atomic Blonde centered on an undercover MI6 agent named Lorraine Broughton (Theron), who is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to look into the murder of a fellow agent and retrieve a missing list of double agents in play. The film starred Theron and James McAvoy and was directed by David Leitch, who co-directed the first John Wick film. After becoming a hit with audiences and at the box office, fans wondered if the action flick would receive a sequel. It had previously been reported that Netflix might be developing Atomic Blonde 2, but now Theron has supported that claim.
In an interview with Total Film, Theron confirmed that they are still writing Atomic Blonde 2 and indicated it is heading to Netflix. When discussing the sequel, Theron stated, "We took [AB2] to them and Scott Stuber [Head of Original Films at Netflix] was really interested in it. We talked to him about it extensively, and we’re in the process of writing it right now. In regards to what direction the sequel may be headed in, Theron added, " That character was set up in a way where she didn’t really reveal much of herself. So I feel like there’s a lot of potential there. The bar’s pretty high, but we’re excited about it.”
In recent years, Theron has shifted gears in her lauded career to take on a considerable amount of action films, such as Mad Max: Fury Road, The Fate of the Furious, and The Old Guard, which recently made its debut on Netflix. As for the Atomic Blonde sequel, Leitch, who may return for the second installment, has previously stated that he had "lots of ideas" for an Atomic Blonde 2. Given the success of The Old Guard on the streaming service, Atomic Blonde 2 could succeed on Netflix, especially if Leitch returns to direct.
Atomic Blonde was a pleasant surprise when it hit theaters, delivering a slick, well-made action thriller with terrific set pieces and a magnetic performance from Theron in the lead. The character was ripe with various possibilities for further adventures, and it's encouraging to hear that a sequel is in fact on the way. It's also a plus that Theron's character may be getting more development in the sequel, which could help add more three-dimensionality to Lorraine. However, in terms of the action sequences, it's going to be tough for Theron and company to top scenes like the stairwell fight scene from the first film. While this isn't an official confirmation that Atomic Blonde 2 is heading to Netflix, it continues to look like that is what will happen with the sequel.
Source: Total Film