Hit Thriller With Millions of Views on Netflix Has a Sequel That’s Stuck Without a Release Date

Getting a sequel off the ground for even the most successful movies can be a challenge. Just look at The Batman Part II, which has been gestating over at Warner Bros. Discovery for a couple of years. Matt Reeves only recently turned in the script for the follow-up, as it took him a couple of years to figure out the story. Script delays aren’t the only reason that a sequel can end up in development hell, though. Scheduling issues and other behind-the-scenes problems can create roadblocks. However, very rarely does a second entry in a franchise actually complete filming and have the rug pulled out from underneath it immediately after.

That’s the situation that Wind River‘s sequel, Wind River: The Next Chapter, finds itself in right now. Taylor Sheridan’s Wind River was one of the most well-reviewed movies of the 2010s and earned its fair share of accolades. Its solid box office return only added fuel to the fire, ensuring that, if there were another story to tell, it would be brought to life. Unfortunately, despite crossing all the t’s and dotting all the i’s, The Next Chapter is in a state of limbo after completing production in 2023, and the only hope for its survival may be a streaming service that continues to push its predecessor to new heights.

Wind River: The New Chapter Would’ve Been Different Than the First Movie

Wind River owes so much of its success to its unique story. Rather than following a murder investigation in a city or suburban town, it sets up shop in the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. The people who call the reservation home don’t expect much from the government that’s supposed to look out for them, but two agents, played by Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen, are looking to set things right by getting to the bottom of a gruesome killing. Their mission takes them to some dark place, and both of them get their fair share of scars. However, they do what they set out to do and go their separate ways.

The New Chapter‘s goal, based on the details that have been released, will be to show what happens when the heroes go home. Ritualistic murders start happening across the reservation, and a new group of investigators steps up to the plate to get to the bottom of the attacks. Neither Renner nor Olsen reprises their roles, making way for new actors, including Martin Sensmeier and Jason Clarke. Sheridan also has no part in the production, with Kari Skogland taking the helm and directing a script by Patrick Massett and John Zinman. It’s possible that Sheridan’s absence is part of the reason why the powers that be are in no rush to get the movie out, but they might have to reconsider after seeing Wind River‘s streaming numbers.

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Wind River Is a Major Hit on Streaming

It’s never shocking to see a movie blow up on a streaming platform, especially when it lands on Netflix. However, Wind River is going up against some heavy hitters, including KPop Demon Hunters and the Shrek franchise, and holding its own, earning one of the spots on the streamer’s Top 10 movie list. With literally millions of eyeballs on Wind River, it’s hard to ignore the potential the sequel has. Sure, the loss of the stars and director will be felt, but the story is what truly held everything together, and The New Chapter isn’t doing away with that.

While it remains to be seen whether The New Chapter will ever get its day in the sun, it’s hard to imagine it sitting around for too much longer. Maybe Netflix or another streamer will start sniffing around and try to acquire the rights to the movie to build on the momentum that the first one has.

Wind River is streaming on Netflix.

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