Tintin 2 is still happening, but Steven Spielberg says fans shouldn't expect to see it for at least another three years. The Adventures of Tintin comics - created by cartoonist Georges Remi under the pseudonym Hergé in 1929 - are some of the most iconic stories in comic book history, and they follow one of the most beloved comic book characters as well: Tintin. The series has been adapted in various forms of media over the years, including film.

The latest film to release based on the comics was Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin in 2011. Spielberg directed the project since he was the one who initially acquired the rights to the franchise from the Hergé Foundation in the 1980s, though the rights bounced around a bit before landing back on Spielberg's doorstep in the early 2000s. Even though the movie spent years in development, it seems that it was worth it in the end. The Adventures of Tintin became a critical and commercial success. Shortly after the film released, Peter Jackson announced plans to direct Tintin 2 after he completed work on The Hobbit trilogy. But the project has since fallen into development hell, with Tintin scribe Anthony Horowitz's script for the sequel having been scrapped. Still, fans should know that the sequel is still very much alive.

Related: Tintin Star Wants Andy Serkis to Direct the Sequel

In an interview with French magazine Premiere for his upcoming film Ready Player One, Steven Spielberg offered a brief update on Tintin 2, saying Peter Jackson still plans on making it. Here's what he said (in a rough translation from French): "Peter Jackson has to do the second part. Normally, if all goes well, he will soon start working on the script. As it takes two years of animation work on the film, for you, I would not expect to see it for about three years. But Peter will stick to it. Tintin is not dead!"

Steven Spielberg working on The BFG

Spielberg or Jackson saying that they're still planning on making Tintin 2 has been the go-to answer for several years now. Unfortunately, there's not much else they can share if the sequel hasn't moved into the development or pre-production stages yet. At least Tintin fans can rest assured knowing that Spielberg and Jackson have the idea in their back pockets, which means it should happen sometime in the near future... hopefully. After all, Jackson spent years working on Mortal Engines, and now the film is finally slated to hit theaters later this year. So, that should give fans some hope that, at least for Jackson, projects don't die-off too easily.

The only thing currently known about Tintin 2 is that it needs a new script, which Spielberg seems to indicate that Jackson will write himself. But it's unclear which Tintin story Jackson plans on adapting for the sequel. Over the years, various reports have indicated that the sequel would be titled either Tintin and the Temple of the Sun or The Adventures of Tintin: Prisoners of the Sun, but neither has been confirmed. And since Jackson will be starting the script from scratch, it doesn't necessarily matter what the plan was previously. Still, with Spielberg being hopeful that Tintin 2 could release within three years, perhaps there'll finally be some official movement on the sequel soon.

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Source: Premiere