Summary
- Spielberg is confirmed to produce the Ready Player One sequel, with production likely starting in 2025 based on his schedule.
- The Ready Player Two novel by Cline serves as the basis for the cinematic sequel, promising new wonders in the OASIS.
- Tye Sheridan, the lead in Ready Player One, expresses excitement and hope for returning for the sequel.
It's been a busy five years or so for author Ernest Cline. In 2018, a film adaptation of his clever dystopian novel, 2011's Ready Player One, was released and became a hit with audiences and critics alike; Cline co-wrote the script with Zak Penn. Ready Player Two, Cline's sequel to his original novel, was released two years later. Since then, he's been developing a cinematic sequel as well, though there hasn't been much news about it for over three years, until now.
In March 2018, Cline told Collider, "I think there's a good chance that, if this one does well, Warner Bros. will want to make a sequel. I don't know if Steven [Spielberg] would want to dive back in, because he would know what he is getting into. He's said that it's the third-hardest film he's made, out of dozens and dozens of movies." Well, it looks like Spielberg is up for the challenge, as he has now confirmed to Showbiz 411 that he will be producing the film. Production, however, likely won't begin until 2025; 2024 is a rare year when Spielberg has nothing in production.
Released back in 2018, Spielberg's adaptation of the first novel dropped audiences in the year 2045. With the planet on the brink of chaos and collapse, people find salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe created by the reclusive genius James Halliday. When Halliday dies, he promises his immense fortune to the first person to discover a digital Easter egg that's hidden somewhere in the OASIS. When young Wade Watts joins the contest, he finds himself becoming an unlikely hero in a reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical world of mystery, discovery and danger. Ready Player One stars Tye Sheridan as Wade Watts alongside Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg, and Mark Rylance.
Tye Sheridan Is Ready for Player Two
Ready Player One
- Release Date
- March 28, 2018
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Cast
- Tye Sheridan , Olivia Cooke , Ben Mendelsohn , Lena Waithe , T.J. Miller , Simon Pegg
- Runtime
- 140
- Writers
- Zak Penn , Ernest Cline
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures/De Line Pictures
Cline's novel, Ready Player Two, was released in November and is a direct sequel to the book rather than the movie. Picking up days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday's contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything. Hidden within Halliday's vaults, just waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS a thousand times more wondrous - and addictive - than even Wade dreamed possible. With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest - a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize.
So Cline and Spielberg are attached, but one other person who is very much on board with returning to the digital world of the OASIS is Ready Player One lead, Tye Sheridan. Sheridan has been hoping to film a sequel for several years. "Recently, like I've had people asking me questions about, you know, a Ready Player Two," the actor said in September of 2020. He continued:
"You know, 'Is there going to be sequel?' And I think everybody's well aware that Ernie Cline is releasing a Ready Player Two, the novel. You know, but people keep asking me and I would love to have an answer for you and I think people, you know, will and can speculate all they want, but I don't really know what the plan is yet. I have my fingers crossed and, of course, I think it's a great and I loved working on that film, so yeah, I hope, I hope we get to do another."
Your hopes have been answered, Sheridan. Watch this space for more details.