We were pretty sure that the success of Zombieland back in 2009 was going to quickly pave way for a sequel, and indeed one has been talked about for nearly ten years now. But what the hell is going on with that project? Is it dead in the water, at this point? Last we heard, there were rumors filming was set to begin last summer; of course, those rumors turned out to be untrue.
Speaking with ComicBook.com, writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Deadpool) provided a bit of an update this week, revealing that the only real hangup is how successful all the major players have become since Zombieland was released eight years ago. They explained:
It is [in active development]. We’re trying to get it going. All of our cast have read the script and love it. Ruben [Fleischer] is signed on. It’s just a matter of making our cast deals and making it for a budget number. All the cast have become superstars now so, we made Zombieland with 20 million, so it’s trying to fit that financial model into the sequel model so it makes sense for the studio and being able to pay the actors what they now get paid and deserve to paid.
We see [Sony Pictures chairman] Tom Rothman pretty frequently now and we’re pestering that dude. He’s like, ‘Please, enough with the Zombieland talk!’ We’re pestering him the way we pestered Fox on Deadpool. We’re not letting it go. We really want to see Zombieland 2.
So there you have it. Sounds like Ruben Fleischer will be back to direct and, if all goes according to plan, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg, and Abigail Breslin will also return.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed.