Fans have been waiting nearly 10 years for Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe to return for a sequel toThe Nice Guys, but the movie’s director explains why that is unlikely to happen.The Nice Guysis a 1970s-set action-comedy starring Gosling as private eye Holland March and Crowe as enforcer Jackson Healy as they team up to find a missing girl and end up uncovering a conspiracy. DespiteThe Nice Guys' strong reviews, the movie was a box office bomb. However, its success on streaming has led to passionate fan demand for a sequel.
In a featurette interview on Second Sight Films' 4K release of the movie,writer-director Shane Black revealed that, despite interest from most of the people involved, we may never seeThe Nice Guys 2happen.Black said that there have been discussions about whatThe Nice Guyssequel could look like, including a story set in Mexico. However, he also pointed out thatthe nature of making a sequel means that it will cost more than the first movie, which is a hard sell consideringThe Nice Guyswas a box-office disappointment. Black shared (viaSlashFilm):
I know the rights situation on The Nice Guys is a bit difficult. Joel [Silver]’s a producer, Warner Bros. is the distributor, there’s an oversees company that Ken Kao is a producer on. So to carve it out and make sure — in other words, can you make the sequel? Yes. Will it be financially feasible once you pay off everyone involved, including the actors getting their bump? That’s the problem, is you’re gonna present something that the actors have to agree to, that’s a good script, and that is going to be very expensive and the studio’s going to say, “Well, didn’t the last one sort of bomb at the theaters?” And you say, “Yeah, but we want you to spend twice as much on this one anyway to get everyone back.”
What Shane Black’s Comments Mean For The Nice Guys Sequel
Cult Status Doesn’t Outweigh Financial Risk
While enthusiasm for aThe Nice Guyssequel has built considerably since the first movie flopped, Black’s reasoning does paint a pessimistic picture of it ever happening. There are plenty of filmmakers who would point to the fan demand for a sequel as proof that there is interest in more story. However,Black is taking a very rational look at the realities of the movie business and concluding that everyone wanting to see a sequel happen is just not enoughto overcome the financial risks.
In the days of video stores, the cult surge thatThe Nice Guysexperienced could have actually bolstered the chances of a sequel happeningeven after a flop. Rentals and video purchases still delivered a considerable profit to studios. However, that is no longer the case in the streaming era, as amovie suddenly gaining popularity on Netflixdoesn’t necessarily help it break even. While the fact that Black has ideas for a sequel he wishes could be made may cause excitement, fans should accept the likelihood thatThe Nice Guyswill forever be anunderrated movie that deserves a sequel.
Our Take On The Nice Guys Sequel Looking Unlikely
Unfortunately, It Is Time To Move On
The Nice Guysis anexcellent action-comedythat seemed perfect for a franchise. With excellent chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe,they make Holland March and Jackson Healy layered and fun characters who could have been transplanted into any number of different storiesand still be entertaining to watch. However, even with the occasional swell of fan demand for a sequel, after nearly a decade, it is simply not in the cards.
While a direct-to-streaming sequel might be an option, it is unclear if the original team would be as interested.
The Nice Guyshas found a much wider audience since its theatrical release, but a long-delayed sequel to a box office bomb is too big a risk for any studio to make. This is especially true considering R-rated comedies have not been a big draw in theaters recently. While a direct-to-streaming sequel might be an option, it is unclear if the original team would be as interested. However, fans can move on to new interests, including Shane Black’sNetflix moviePlay Dirtywith Mark Wahlberg, which could be the action-comedyThe Nice Guysfans have been waiting for.
