The Tomorrow Warmade headlines during the COVID-19 pandemic when Paramount Pictures sold the film’s distribution rights toAmazonin a deal worth at least $200 million. The switch to a straight-to-streaming release proved to be fruitful forThe Tomorrow War, as the film reportedly broke streaming records by becoming the #1 streaming film in less than 48 hours and reached viewership numbers as high as two million households. Now, Amazon and Skydance have seen the film’s warm reception by viewers and are planning on bringing back the main cast and crew for a sequel.
The Tomorrow Warwas releasedon July 2nd, 2021, and told a military science-fiction story about an international militia traveling to the future to fight dangerous alien invaders known as the “Whitespikes.” The film follows a biology teacher and former Green Beret named Dan Forester (played by Chris Pratt), who is drafted into the war after the world’s militaries launch an initial battle through their “Jumplink” time travel technology and suffer devastating casualties.
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Variety reports Amazon is discussing a sequel toThe Tomorrow War, and their plan is to bring back the majority of those who worked on the first film. Pratt is respected to return, along with the first’s film ensemble cast, which includes Yvonne Strahovski, Betty Gilpin, J.K. Simmons, Sam Richardson, and Edwin Hodge, among others. Chris McKay, the director ofThe LEGO Batman MovieandTheTomorrow War’s helmer, is expected to return for the sequel, as is the first film’s screenwriter Zach Dean.
Amazon has been steadily building a reputation of having one of the best selections of original films across the major streaming services. The films released by Amazon include modern independent classics likeManchester by the SeaandThe Big Sick, and as of late have also included populist hits such asBorat Subsequent Moviefilm,Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse, andComing 2 America. So,The Tomorrow Warcontinues the recent trend of movies with the potential to reach wider audiences being released onto Amazon Prime, and it is the most prevalent example of the company’s new willingness to offer blockbuster films on its service.
It is both refreshing and inspiring to seea film likeThe Tomorrow Warreach wider audiences, especially at a time when moviegoers are getting vaccinated and can safely return to theaters to see big summer movies. The success of the first film proved that a market for big-budget streaming releases exists, and when a sequel gets off the ground, it will surely be given a lot of attention.
