Why Was 'Brightburn 2' Cancelled? James Gun Had 'No Plans' For A Sequel Despite First Film's Success

Brightburn was a superhero horror film directed by David Yarovesky. The film was written by Mark Gunn and Brian Gunn and produced by none other than James Gunn and Kenneth Huang. However, while the film was immensely loved by fans, the audience never got a sequel. Let's find out why.

What was the story of Brightburn?

The 2019 superhero horror film, Brightburn was much loved by the fans. The film starring Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn, Matt Jones, and Meredith Hagner follows the story of 'Brandon Breyer,' a young boy whom 'Tori' and 'Kyle' adopted after finding him aboard a spaceship. As he grows up, he realizes that he has extraordinary powers, which he uses for sinister purposes.

The film was a massive hit among the fans. The antagonistic approach to the film, combined with the 'villain is the main character' energy, was very well received. Earlier, there were reports that a sequel was underway; however, in 2024, it received a disappointing update, leaving its fate undecided. 

Why was Brightburn 2 cancelled?

In 2024, producer of Brightburn, James Gunn, revealed on Threads that there are "no plans at all" for a sequel. He shared that at the moment, they had no plot or project in development for the film's sequel. Brightburn was released in May 2019, with many anticipating an exciting sequel to witness 'Brandon Breyer's' supervillainous stint. The film was a fresh switch in a 'hero' focused universe.

However, before the update, James Gunn reportedly stated that a potential sequel was being discussed. The audience's hopes for Brightburn 2 were further fueled when director, David Yarovesky, discussed his plans for future installments in this horror universe. He revealed that he'll take inspiration from Cloverfield for sequels in a conversation with Collider. He had hoped to expand the Brightburn universe. However, it crashed when James Gunn made the announcement. He was quoted as saying"

"If we were to expand the Brightburn universe in other installments and in other ways, we would probably be doing it in the exact same way, in total secrecy and then drop a cinematic trailer at some point that kind of teaches you what that new direction may be."

What did James Gunn say about Brightburn 2?

In March 2024, James Gunn took to Threads to reveal that Brightburn 2 is not happening. He acknowledged that there were earlier talks about a sequel. The producer revealed that there were issues regarding the film's rights, which have made the sequel extremely unlikely. He was quoted as saying:

"I mean we talked about it early on. But the rights are all f**ked up (I only own half) so it's unlikely that it will ever happen."

Is there a chance Brightburn 2 could happen in the future?

As per James Gunn's comment, he ruled out the possibility of the release of Brightburn 2. However, there's still room to revive the franchise if the rights get sorted out. Moreover, the film also received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and commercial success upon its release. The film's success, combined with the long wait, could play a positive role in the franchise's future if the makers ever decide to bring 'Brandon' back to the big screen. The film was made on a budget of USD 6 million and earned USD 33 million.2 million during its theatrical run.

What are your thoughts on Brightburn 2 being cancelled? Let us know.

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