Steven Spielberg reveals the Ready Player One sequel is in early development.

Spielberg directed the 2018 adaptation of Ernest Cline's novel, Ready Player One and he is currently attached to the upcoming sequel Ready Player Two as a producer. In an interview with Showbiz 411, the legendary filmmaker revealed that the film is still in early development as it's in the "discovery phase." Spielberg stated, "We're in the discovery phase, trying to figure out what's next."

Warner Bros. demonstrated their enthusiasm for the Ready Player One universe by securing the rights to Ernest Cline's novel before its publication, with Spielberg joining the project in 2015. Known for delivering captivating spectacles with iconic films like Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Jurassic Park, Spielberg's involvement added significant weight to the project. He transitioned from dramatic projects like Lincoln, Bridge of Spies, and The Post. Ready Player One marked a departure from this trend as a blockbuster boasting an abundance of visual effects and immersive world-building.

Ready Player One Was a Big Hit in Theaters

Ready Player One proved to be successful at the box office, grossing $607 million worldwide and earning a 72% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film's screenplay was adapted by the original novel writer, Nathan Cline alongside Zak Penn. The impressive ensemble cast features Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg, and Mark Rylance.

Ready Player One's story takes place in the year 2045, where much of humanity seeks solace in the OASIS, a vast virtual reality simulation. Against this backdrop, a young orphan uncovers clues leading to a high-stakes competition promising ownership of the OASIS. With the help of allies, he races against time to solve the puzzle before a malevolent corporation seizes control, threatening the freedom of this digital realm.

Author Ernest Cline released the sequel novel Ready Player Two in 2020 and provided an update on the upcoming adaptation stating, "It’s in the early stages right now, especially since Hollywood is in limbo right now, But I can tell from the experience of making the first movie that everybody had a lot of fun. We talked about the possibility of there being a Ready Player Two when we were making Ready Player One. In Hollywood you never know. I really tried my best to focus on just writing a sequel to my book. There are characters in the movie that are alive that aren’t alive in the book. I focused on trying to give fans the book without letting the film influence me. The movie will sort itself out later."

Ready Player One is currently available to stream on various platforms.

Source: Showbiz411