Now that Cloverfield 2 is happening, here are the biggest questions Cloverfield's sequel must answer. J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves are two of the busiest filmmakers in Hollywood now, but back in 2008 they teamed up to unintentionally launch a shared universe. Cloverfield hit theaters over a decade ago after an online marketing campaign drummed up extra interest in the found-footage monster movie. The movie was a hit relative to its budget and wound up spawning two spinoffs, 10 Cloverfield Lane and The Cloverfield Paradox.

After the disappointing surprise launch of The Cloverfield Paradox on Netflix, the franchise's future became unclear. That is until Paramount and J.J. Abrams' production company Bad Robot began developing a true sequel to Cloverfield. The sequel is now picking up steam after Cloverfield 2 hired the writer of Reeves' The Batman HBO Max spinoff series. No director is attached, and Reeves is technically not involved in the sequel, but Abrams is back producing the upcoming monster flick. Details on what Cloverfield 2 will be about remain a mystery, although it is confirmed that the sequel will ditch the found-footage approach of the original.

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One of the brilliant aspects of Cloverfield is how it doesn't take a lot of time to explain what's actually going on. Audiences are taken for a ride along with the main characters, and the chaos surrounding a monster suddenly attacking New York runs throughout the film. Cloverfield raises far more questions than it answers, but that will have to change now that Cloverfield 2 is coming. The sequel must address some longtime questions about Cloverfield, and it could also clear up some aspects of the other franchise installments. But what exactly still needs to be answered? Here are the biggest questions Cloverfield 2 must answer.

Where Did The Monster Come From?

One of the biggest questions audiences had in 2008 is the origins of the Cloverfield monster. The movie reveals it emerged from the water and initially led many to believe it was a Godzilla-type creature. Characters in Cloverfield speculate that it could've lived in the depths of the oceans forever. While this was commonly thought to be somewhat close to the truth, The Cloverfield Paradox muddied the waters. The third installment of the franchise suggests the monster originated from an alternate dimension. This comes through an explanation of what the Shepherd particle accelerator can do. A scientist on TV says it risks "ripping open the membrane of space-time, smashing together multiple dimensions, shattering reality," which could result in monsters from other dimensions traveling to the current one. With Cloverfield 2 surely set to further explore man's war against the monsters, a true explanation of where it came from - whether it be the depths of the ocean, an alternate dimension, time-travel, etc. - is a necessity.

Why Did The Monster Attack In 2008?

The monster in New York in Cloverfield

Not only does Cloverfield leave audiences wondering where the monster came from, but some might also wonder why it attacked for the first time in 2008. If the monster is from Earth and lived on the planet for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, what provoked it to finally go after humanity? Similarly, why was New York its target? The answer to these questions could go hand-in-hand with clarity on its origin. If The Cloverfield Paradox's hypothesis is proven correct, the monster might've attacked New York in 2008 because that's when and where the Shepherd particle accelerator transported it to. However, if Cloverfield 2 rejects this explanation, then figuring out what caused the initial attack is something that could factor into the next stage of the fight or how humanity tries to prevent another attack from happening.

Did The Monster Die At The End of Cloverfield?

The end of Cloverfield certainly isn't a happy one in the eyes of most viewers, as just about every main character is believed to be dead. With the final moments of Cloverfield's ending focusing on Rob and Beth right before they presumably die, Cloverfield never shows what actually happens to the monster. The sound of the barrage of bombs hitting New York is accompanied by screams from the monster, but did it actually die? The movie already showed the creature survive a few bombs to the back, and there's no telling just how strong it is. Cloverfield 2 must answer this question as it should go a long way in determining the sequel's story. If the monster did die, what happened next? Was the monster studied and experimented on by the government? But if the monster didn't die, Cloverfield 2 could explore how humanity did - or did not - eventually defeat it.

Related: Cloverfield: All 3 Hidden Monster Movie Easter Eggs Explained

Are Other Cloverfield Monsters On Earth?

The entirety of Cloverfield's events follows the lives of a small group of characters in a single city for just a few hours. And regardless of whether or not the main monster was defeated, Cloverfield never lets us know if other creatures have emerged. There are even theories that Cloverfield secretly features two monsters. The end of The Cloverfield Paradox states there are multiple monsters on Earth, and at least one of them is significantly bigger than the one in Cloverfield. However, that film takes place in 2028. If all the movies exist in the same dimension (more on that later), then The Cloverfield Paradox already answered this. Regardless, Cloverfield 2 can answer whether or not Earth was attacked by more than just one monster during the original film or in the years that followed.

What Happened To New York After Cloverfield?

Cloverfield Movie Poster Skyline

The fate of New York looks quite dour by the end of Cloverfield. The monster rampaged across the city and tore off the Statue of Liberty's head, and then the military repeatedly bombed it. One military member even comments that the government was ready to level the city if it meant taking down the beast. Even though we don't know for sure whether the monster died, Cloverfield makes it clear a big attack did come. With so much destruction, what happened to New York in the aftermath? The city could have been destroyed and deserted, or New York could've been rebuilt. Any answer would be nice to get in Cloverfield 2.

Did Lily Survive?

Cloverfield Cast Lily Rob Hud Marlena

While just about every other main character in Cloverfield has a death shown on screen, Lily is the only one who has a realistic chance of survival. Once the group finally arrives at safety with the military, Lily is put on the first helicopter to leave, but it is too full for the rest of the friends. She is forced to fly away and leave her friends behind, but that's the last time she's shown. This suggests that Lily made it out of Cloverfield alive, but there's no way to be sure. Lily doesn't need to be the main character in Cloverfield 2, but it would bring some closure to her story one way or another if the sequel revealed what happened to her.

Are 10 Cloverfield Lane's Aliens Tied To The Monster?

The alien spaceship in 10 Cloverfield Lane

When 10 Cloverfield Lane was revealed to be a Cloverfield movie, most fans were excited by the idea of possibly seeing the original monster again. However, 10 Cloverfield Lane wound up not including the familiar creature in its finale. The end of the film included new creatures and an alien spaceship, instead. This raised many questions about whether or not the Cloverfield monster and 10 Cloverfield Lane's aliens are connected in any way. The second installment of the universe makes no direct connection, making it one of the film's biggest unanswered questions. Cloverfield 2 can clear the air regarding the monsters and aliens, even if that means explaining that both events have no known relation to the other.

Related: What Cloverfield 2 Means For Paradox & 10 Cloverfield Lane

Do The Cloverfield Spinoffs Happen In The Same Universe?

Cloverfield 2 must answer one more question: how this cinematic franchise is or is not connected. Cloverfield and The Cloverfield Paradox include the same monster design, but the latter is much bigger. What made this connection even stranger is how The Cloverfield Paradox doesn't really line up with Cloverfield beyond that. At this point, most fans have concluded that the movies each exist in separate universes/realities, but this is far from confirmed. Cloverfield 2 needs to clear up how this franchise works somehow, especially since it is a true sequel to the original film and not another spinoff.

MORE: Cloverfield Theory: All 3 Movies Take Place In Different Dimensions