Robert Rodriguez Confirms Alita Battle Angel 2 Is Happening

Alita: Battle Angel director Robert Rodriguez tells the media that a sequel is being talked about, and they are working on it.

In most cases, a Hollywood adaptation usually crashes and burns like Death Note, Dragonball Evolution, Astro Boy, Ghost In the Shell, Cowboy Bebop had negative reviews. But Alita: Battle Angel is one of the rare cases where an anime US adaptation was received quite well. Not only that, but fans have been clamouring when the sequel will ever turn up.

The film did well enough to earn a profit, which gives the opportunity that it could have a sequel. Obviously, it was not enough for the filmmakers to rush on it and actually make a follow-up movie. But it was enough to consider making it in the future, as it did hint at a bigger storyline, and it even featured a tease of Edward Norton being the main villain of the franchise.

Just a week ago, we reported that producer Jon Landau said that they are already talking about it. Not only that, but he has been talking with director Robert Rodriguez and star Rosa Salazar about returning to make the sequel.

Alita Battle Angel 2 Is Being Discussed Says Director Robert Rodriguez

In an interview with Total Film (via GamesRadar), the director was asked if there is any update on the Alita sequel, and he then answered:

Yeah, we have been talking about it, so we would love to make one. We haven’t set it for sure yet, but we’re definitely hoping to and talking about it a lot. They’re slammed with all the Avatar stuff, but they’ve definitely been engaging in it.

With Avatar being made back-to-back, it’s no wonder why Alita has been put on the back burner. Avatar 3 is already in post-production, and Avatar 4 is currently filming. Avatar 5 is already in pre-production. With that, yes, it’s true that James Cameron is ‘slammed.’ He really can’t focus on other projects and the moment, but it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t want to get back to it.

Christoph Waltz Talks About Alita Battle Angel 2 Plans

Credit: 20th Century Fox

James Cameron, director and writer of the Avatar films, worked on Alita back in the early 2000s. It was based on a manga series written by Yukito Kishiro titled Gunnm, which was released back in 1990 to 1995. Initially, Cameron wanted to direct it himself, but the position was eventually given to Robert Rodriguez. The film did get made and was released in January 2019.

Ever since Disney bought 20th Century Fox in 2020, it felt that many franchises had unknown futures. Alita was one of them. Back in 2021, Rodriguez even thought that Alita’s sequel might find a home at Disney Plus, saying:

I think anything is possible. Disney bought Fox, and they have Disney+, so that is worth the conversation. I know other people would love to see another, and I would love to do another one. As far as where it would go or how it would be made, I think streaming has opened up many opportunities such as sequels. It’s already a pre-sold concept, it’s already got a built-in audience that wants to see it, and then it’s delivered to them in a way that’s the easiest for them to consume. So, it’s not a bad idea.

Robert Rodriguez Says Alita Battle Angel 2 Is In Discussions

Credit: 20th Century Fox

Right now, it seems that discussions are happening on all fronts, especially between producer Jon Landau and director Robert Rodriguez. Even more, Rosa Salazar also shared with CinemaBlend back in April 2022:

I harass them all the time. Like, it might become a legal issue soon. I email with James Cameron a lot. … And he’s always like, ‘I’m so down.’ Which is crazy to hear someone like James Cameron be like, ‘I’m so down!’ When we were in South by Southwest, I went over to Robert (Rodriguez)’s house and had tea, and was just talking about Alita. All three of us have so much love for it. It’s never outside of our line of vision, ever. Everything we do, we’re just sort of like, ‘How do we get back there?’ … We’re trying like hell to get her back out there because we know how much, just like (Undone), her story means so much to women, to young girls, to boys, to everybody. I think she represents something that transcends race, gender, all of that. So we’re working on it, man!

Credit: Disney

James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez have said that they made a blood oath that they’ll make the sequel. All we have to do is wait.

Cameron himself is excited to make the Alita sequel a reality, but he does have to finish filming his own franchise Avatar. With Cameron being the writer and producer of the Alita franchise, it’s natural that things won’t really move until he’s free.

I, for one, am excited to see it through. Cameron waited decades before making Alita: Battle Angel, so waiting a few more years for the sequel isn’t too much to ask.

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GamesRadar