Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy open to making a Free Guy sequel

In this age of mega-franchises and crossover event movies, 2021’s Free Guy was a rare unicorn of a movie: an original IP. Though it had plenty of references to pop culture ranging from Fortnight to Marvel to Star Wars, the movie itself stood on its own footing. And audiences responded: Free Guy took in more than $330 million at the box office at a time when moviegoers were still reluctant to even go to the theater. The story of Guy, a video game NPC played by Ryan Reynolds, gaining sentience and helping bring down a ruthless game corporation CEO had a ton of heart and a surprisingly good script. It was just an overall solid movie.

But of course, this is the age of mega-franchises and event movies, so the natural question that has arisen after Free Guy’s critical and commercial success is: will we get a sequel? According to Reynolds and director Shawn Levy, the answer is…maybe?

Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy address Free Guy sequel questions

Levy and Reynolds appear to be a match made in movie heaven. The pair have spoken before about how easy their collaboration was on the film, but the proof is in the pudding: since then, they’ve gone on to make The Adam Project for Netflix and plan to continue working together well into the future.

“We’re very lucky that we found each other at this stage in our careers where it’s unlike any kind of work relationship I’ve ever had, and I’ve had some great ones. But I just adore working with Shawn, and I hope that I get to make you as many movies as humanly possible. As many of I’m allowed to make, I hope they’re with Shawn,” Reynolds said.

The Adam Project is an upcoming Netflix movie which features Reynolds’ character Adam traveling back in time from the future and teaming up with a child version of himself to find their missing father (played by Mark Ruffalo) and save the world. While out promoting the movie, Levy and Reynolds were asked by Collider about the possibility of a Free Guy sequel.

“We loved Free Guy,” Levy said. “We were thrilled that Free Guy was as successful as it was, and particularly as an original movie at a time where few get made and even fewer are hits. So that was gratifying. And if we can crack that sequel, that’s something that might be very fun to make together.”

Levy said that there is “real interest” from 20th Century Fox (now owned by Disney) to do a sequel, but that the duo have been waiting for a script treatment to feel right before committing to anything. “We had such a clear idea of the tone, the story, the details of Free Guy, and we both made a few sequels in our lives, and so we know how hard it is to make a worthy one,” the director said. “And when we feel confident that’s the kind we’ll make, then we’ll make it.”

“The things that we’re getting involved with are stories that we really want to tell, stories that the studios that we’re talking to are ready to go as soon as we’re ready to go,” Reynolds said. “For us, it’s mostly just about getting the story is right, the script is right before you go to camera because that’s everything. We both know that it’s a slippery slope heading into physical production before something’s truly ready.”

As great as Free Guy was and as fun as any potential sequel might be, you have to respect the artistic line in the sand that Levy and Reynolds are drawing here. We’ve all seen successful movies get buried under sequel after disappointing sequel by studios looking to wring as much money as possible out of them. Levy and Reynolds’ commitment to making a Free Guy sequel only if it feels like the right call is refreshing. And hey…maybe it’s that sort of artistic integrity that led to the film being so good in the first place.

The Adam Project lands on Netflix on March 11.

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h/t Syfy Wire, Collider