Cloverfield: Matt Reeves talks sequel idea and the impossibility of making a surprise movie in 2023

2023 marks the 15th anniversary of the release of the creature feature Cloverfield (watch it HERE), which was directed by Matt Reeves from a screenplay by Drew Goddard and produced by J.J. Abrams. The Hollywood Reporter interviewed Reeves specifically to discuss the fact that 15 years have gone by since Cloverfield reached screens, and during the conversation Reeves mentioned an idea for a direct sequel to the film and revealed that he doesn’t think they could keep a movie secret today the way they did when they were working on Cloverfield.

When asked why a direct sequel to Cloverfield has been so tough to crack, Reeves answered, “Well, to be honest with you, when we finished, we [Reeves, Abrams, Goddard] all had ideas for what the sequel could be, and it was just one of those things where our schedules got pulled off into different directions. So we never ended up doing it in that way, and when [Dan Trachtenberg’s] 10 Cloverfield Lane came to be, it was like, “Oh, this is a really exciting way to continue to explore the tone of this world.” But doing a direct sequel was something that we initially … I did something in the movie when Hud is on the bridge before the tail comes and smashes the Brooklyn Bridge in half. There’s a moment where you actually see someone filming him and you realize, “Oh, there’s another perspective on this evening.” So that was one of my thoughts for what could be the beginning of another story. The different perspective would be a different story. It’d be another story of people surviving this night, and so we talked about all those things. There was an idea that I had for something that was … We all had ideas, and we just didn’t line up again. I can’t ever say that we wouldn’t or what we’re doing because it’s Cloverfield and Cloverfield rules are that you don’t talk about Cloverfield. So it is interesting that it didn’t really go directly into something else, but it ended up taking a really interesting turn. I mean, Dan’s film is a really cool film. The thing about Cloverfield from the beginning was it was always so surprising the way it came together, and I hope that it continues to be surprising. Weirdly, that’s actually one of the hallmarks of it as well. It’s the surprise of something coming out of left field, which is harder and harder now. It’s probably impossible to do today, but at the time, it was a unique idea that this movie that no one had ever heard of and had no title would suddenly have a trailer on Transformers on 4th of July weekend. I just don’t know that it could be done anymore.“

Cloverfield became an anthology series, with Dan Trachtenberg’s 10 Cloverfield Lane and Julius Onah’s The Cloverfield Paradox telling separate stories. Abrams did manage to keep the 10 Cloverfield Lane title secret until we saw a promo for that movie, but we knew about The Cloverfield Paradox well in advance.

A few months ago, it was announced that Babak Anvari (Under the Shadow) will be directing a new Cloverfield movie, working from a script written by Joe Barton (iBoy). Plot details are, of course, being kept under wraps.

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