Are we about to getSky High 2? A sequel to the 2005 Disney superhero comedy? Perhaps, as original director Mike Mitchell is currently working on the screenplay alongside Walt Dohrn. Though, the duo is torn between moving forward on theSky Highsequel or returning to theShrekfranchise, which they’ve both contributed to in the past.
WhenSky Highopened back in 2005, it was a big deal as it reunitedKurt Russellwith Disney, and payed homage to some of his earliest family classics. It was a hit with critics and audiences alike, but proved to be more of a success on home video than at the box office, pulling in just $63.9 million domestically off a $35 million budget. It would go onto gross $86.3 million worldwide, and it was clearly set up for a sequel.
The originalSky Highrevolved around a school in the sky where teens learn how to besuperheroes. Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano) lands in a class for students who show special promise. Classmate Gwen (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) quickly cozies up to Will, but it’s soon clear that she has other motives. When he learns that Gwen’s mother is a villain who was defeated by his father, Steve Stronghold (Kurt Russell), Will realizes that Gwen is aiming for revenge, and he rushes to a school dance in the hope of stopping her.
It’s likely thatSky High 2will be more of a soft reboot than atrue sequel, though it’s certainly possible that Michael Angarano, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Kurt Russell will all return. Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn most recently co-directed the upcoming animated family comedyTrolls. Speaking withThe Hollywood News, the duo revealed thatSky High 2is moving forward at Disney. When asked if they were working onShrek 5, Dorn said ‘not yet’, but they’d both love to be. Then Mike Mitchell stepped into say this.
“Who knows? It’s between that and we’re working on a sequel to Sky High. We’ll see how that goes.”
Disney hasn’t officially announcedSky High 2, but there has been some chatter over the past few years. Since the original movie’s release, Kurt Russell has seen a surge in popularity, thanks to his starring role in Quentin Tarantino’sDeath Proof, which came out two years afterSky High. The actor, who got his start on the big screen starring in Disney movies such as The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and The Strongest Man in the World, is reuniting with the studio once again in next summer’sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, where he plays Star-Lord’s dad, Ego the Living Planet.
Sky High 2is still in the very early stages. And it’s not at all clear when this superhero comedy franchise could get a kick-start. We’ll just have to wait and see if Kurt Russell returns in yet another superhero sequel, but we’re betting fans wouldn’t mind.
