Summary

• Guy Ritchie taps into different genres, from medieval fantasy to British crime, but thrives with crime comedies.
• RocknRolla explores a sketchy real estate plot with complex characters and intricate storylines.
• Uncertainty looms for a sequel due to legal issues and other projects, leaving fans eager for more London intrigue.

When it comes to Guy Ritchie movies, there are many films that fans of varying tastes can choose from. He has the Sherlock Holmes films for those who love mysteries, as well as war films like The Covenant. He also has a medieval fantasy movie in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and a Disney remake with Aladdin.

Despite tapping into many genres, Ritchie's go-to properties are crime comedies, especially those that deal with British gangsters. His most popular ones are Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. However, as good as all these are, they don't hold a candle to his most underrated movie, RocknRolla. Coincidentally, with Netflix fans soaking in The Gentlemen TV series, some fans have been wondering why the RocknRolla sequel hasn't been made.

RocknRolla Focused on a Sketchy Real Estate Plot

As with many Guy Ritchie movies, RocknRolla had several revolving parts. One focused on the gang called the Wild Bunch, which was led by One-Two (Gerard Butler), Mumbles (Idris Elba) and Handsome Bob (Tom Hardy). They got caught up in a real estate scheme, running afoul of a businessman named Lenny.

Lenny had his own problems to deal with, including his deadbeat son, Johnny, and a rivalry with a Russian, Uri. In the end, Uri wanted to know who stole his money and why Lenny didn't want to return a precious painting. Uri killed his own accountant, Stella, for playing a hand in him getting robbed, while Bob stopped Lenny's right-hand man, Archy, from killing them by revealing that Lenny was snitching on them all.

The movie ended with the Wild Bunch going free, Archy murdering Lenny, and Johnny getting sober to take over the empire. This set Ritchie up for The Real RocknRolla, which was actually advertised in a title card at the end of this film. Sadly, it had an $18 million budget, and only made $26 million. Snatch, for example, made $83 million at the box office. Thus, from a financial standpoint, RocknRolla didn't warrant a follow-up.

Still, the movie has a cult status as the years rolled on. It also helped that critics didn't pan it. Fans simply connected with Ritchie's style of grime and his depictions of how rogues rolled in the British streets. This helped pave the way for other period pieces such as Taboo and Peaky Blinders. Ritchie himself stated he wanted to get it done, but scheduling always got in the way. He was also getting calls from big studios to make massive franchise movies, so these mainstream, popcorn films took priority.

A RockNRolla Sequel Could Dissect Johnny's Kingdom

Johnny (played by Toby Kebbell) always wanted to be a kingpin. A sequel could easily deal with him running the show. Fans loved Mark Strong as Archy, so he can babysit again, ensuring Johnny doesn't go off the rails, sink back into drugs, or use his junkies for dangerous missions. Johnny does see him as a mentor and father-figure, after all.

Still, Johnny is very much a liability, and it's implied Archy has created a rift with the Russians. Archy got the painting back from them, so whether it's Uri, the latter's henchman Victor, or another new generation of Europeans other than Russians, there could be trouble to come. Archy may even have to use the Wild Bunch for jobs. He spared them, so they owe him a debt. The question is, would a man of honor, code and loyalty like Archy be willing to trust this squad?

That's a very intriguing concept, given that Johnny's ego would create tension with the gang. Johnny is into music as well, paving the way for his talent managers and producers, Mickey (Ludacris) and Roman (Jeremy Piven) to return. They tried to fake his death, so his music would sell more. Thus, it's easy to see them cooking up schemes and running into trouble with the law, or feuds with rivals. Either way, Johnny is chaos and Archy is the man who has to quell that storm. With Lenny gone, a sequel can truly offer both men a new beginning after this fan-favorite Ritchie film.

A RockNRolla Sequel Would Need to Address Stella's Fate

The first Ritchie movie had Uri ordering Victor to kill Stella off-screen. Given how popular Thandiwe Newton is right now, it would make sense to bring her back. She has been in Westworld and the Mission: Impossible franchise, among the many. No matter what, Newton will always be a draw. Fans do hold her Stella in high esteem for how she manipulated Uri. She could have taken out the Russians and fled, while secretly forming an alliance with Archy.

When Archy got the painting back, he may well have saved her. That could make her his accountant and give her romantic interest in One-Two a reason to work for Archy. Seeing as all the men around always fall for Stella, One-Two could have competition in Archy and Johnny. Fans have always theorized what happened to her, so this would be a natural direction to take her in. She can keep running jobs as a handler, while sowing discord among all the toxic men who fall at her feet. She does seem to love One-Two, which can lead to his boys questioning if his allegiance is with them or her.

It's a direction the Fast & Furious movies, and even the James Bond movies, went in. The point is, Ritchie loves romance, action, and soap opera drama, as The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare recently showed. As a result, he can make Stella the linchpin of this gangster universe, while leaving One-Two conflicted on his true path.

RocknRolla 2 Has to Deal With One-Two & Handsome Bob

Bob was supposed to head to jail after Lenny's snitching. A second movie from Ritchie can detail if he went to jail, how time in prison was, and if he found love. A major aspect of the film was Bob being gay and One-Two being the only one who didn't know. Not until Bob solicited him. They did have a slow dance together, with Bob confirming, amid all his dark humor, that his feelings were real.

Upon getting out, a RocknRolla sequel can dive into if Bob still has feelings for One-Two, his potential jealousy over Stella, or if One-Two might reciprocate his feelings. One-Two did seem insecure, but in a kind of way as if he was repressing his emotions. Ritchie loves cheeky arcs, so this could create an effective, humorous love triangle. With the time-jump and the gang sure to evolve, it'll be interesting to see new faces in the Wild Bunch react to Bob, as well as the rumors of him and One-Two.

Ritchie loves dealing with masculinity, so this is a chance to cut the more more problematic elements, and really dial down into the identity of these aggressive men, and if they're overcompensating with all their testosterone. Reputations and ego being on the line will make things even more interesting.

Could a RocknRolla Sequel Get Made?

It will be tricky for Ritchie to make a RocknRolla sequel. He spoke of having a script, a planned trilogy and producer Joel Silver wanting more. However, there have been bumps in the road. Mickey de Hara claimed Ritchie hired him to write the sequel, incorporating real elements of de Hara's life. The latter ended up suing Ritchie, however, claiming Ritchie used these notes to make The Gentlemen movie and then the Netflix show.

Ritchie admitted he repurposed some stuff in that story that dealt with British aristocrats running weed fields and gangs wanting in on the action. He also confessed the volume used wasn't considered creative theft, and that he paid de Hara, so the IP was his to revise with as he saw fit. Over 15 years elapsed, plus none of the cast has spoken about this sequel. Ritchie has seemingly moved onto greener pastures, but if there is a chance RocknRolla 2 comes to life, rest assured that viewers will be champing at the bit for more of that dastardly life in London.