The Gray Man must have performed very well for Netflix, as the streaming service is not only ordering up a sequel to the spy thriller, but a spinoff feature as well.
The Hollywood Reporter is stating that The Gray Man co-writer Stephen McFeely will be scripting a followup adventure for the streaming service with the film’s directors Anthony and Joe Russo returning as well. Additionally, Deadpool writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese are reported to be at work on a spinoff feature, the details of which are being kept secret for the time being.
The espionage thriller starring Ryan Gosling as a highly trained, off-the-books assassin who finds himself with information that could be very damaging to his CIA handlers, had a week-long run in theaters earlier this month before Netflix moved it to their streaming service.
The film received rather mixed reviews – you can read ours here – but debuted as the number one title on Netflix when it hit the streamer. There was some criticism of the film’s $200 million price tag, but it certainly seems as if it is paying dividends for the streamer now.
The Gray Man was based on the 2009 debut novel from writer Mark Greaney. It also served as the start of a literary franchise for Greaney, with a total of eight sequels being published so far. It remains to be seen as to whether the Netflix sequel or the spinoff project will draw specific story material from these books or if they will chart their own narrative course.
