Will Netflix green light The Half of It 2, and what might audiences expect if the story continues? The Half of It is a coming-of-age film in which Leah Lewis stars as bookish teenager Ellie Chu, who dishes out advice about romance, but hasn't actually experienced much herself. Written and directed by Alice Wu, The Half of It released in May 2020.
The Half of It focuses on the friendship between Ellie and a love-struck classmate named Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer). Hoping to gain the attention of Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire), Paul secretly hires Ellie to write romantic messages, even though he doesn't necessarily understand his true feelings. As The Half of It progresses, religion becomes an underlying theme as all three of the main characters question their beliefs, and what they want moving forward. Taiwanese actor Collin Chou co-stars as Ellie's father Edwin, a widower who remembers his late wife by identifying the best parts of classic movies that she enjoyed.
As revealed by Ellie's narration, The Half of It isn't quite a traditional love story. Still, there's plenty of romantic conflict as Paul tries to understand the women in his life, and the concept that love can get "messy." Here's everything we know so far about The Half of It 2 on Netflix.
The Half of It 2 Hasn't Been Announced (Yet)
The Half of It 2 hasn't been announced by Netflix, which isn't a surprise given that the original film just released. If the streaming numbers are big, then executives will probably push for Wu to write and direct a second installment. But unlike the 2018 Netflix hit To All the Boys I've Loved Before (and even the 2020 sequel To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You), The Half of It's storyline is more focused on introspection rather than hook-ups and typical teenage drama. Wu told Decider that “It’s ok that no one ends up with the girl. There’s this idea that we’re all searching for perfect love, which at the end of the day doesn’t exist. But while you’re on that doomed quest, you might have a shot at finding out who you are."
The Half of It 2 Release Date
If Netflix moves forward with The Half of It 2, filming is unlikely to begin before 2021 at the earliest due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has put virtually all movie and TV production on lockdown. Expect Netflix to tentatively plan a 2022 release date for The Half of It 2, which would align with the existing production process for the To All the Boys franchise.
The Half of It 2 Story Details
The Half of It 2 will seemingly focus on Ellie's potential romance with Aster. They share a first kiss during the first film, and Ellie even says "I'll see you in a couple years." But therein may lie a big issue, as the two women could simply be headed in different paths, with Ellie ready to begin college in Iowa and Aster looking to pursue a career in art. As for Paul, he'll undoubtedly be part of The Half of It 2, if only as a supportive friend for Ellie and Aster.
If The Half of It 2 does happen, don't be surprised if the storyline focuses primarily on Ellie's new journey, wherever that may be. She may not want to move too far away from her father, but he could actually be the one who urges her to go off and experience the world, perhaps to learn more about her mother. Expect The Half of It 2 on Netflix to be loaded up with literary and cinematic references, many of which will probably resonate a little more with Ellie as she pursues her goals.