Just yesterday we received a minor update on the status of HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS 2 from director Tommy Wirkola himself. Wirkola, out promoting DEAD SNOW 2: RED VS. DEAD, revealed a script has been turned into Paramount, and he’s actually just sort of waiting out a decision at this point. (Despite the fact that the film has reportedly been given a 2016 release date.) That being considered, now would be a good time to hear from some of the other principals involved with the project.
In an interview with CinemaBlend, “Hansel,” aka Jeremy Renner, expresses guarded enthusiasm about the prospect of a sequel, although he appears to be even further out of the loop as Wirkola: Evidently, Renner didn’t even realize a script has been written. (“Ah,” he says after being told the screenplay was already handed in to the studio.)
Asked if he would do it, Renner responds in the affirmative, although as Wirkola pointed out, scheduling will be the key issue:
…it’s ultimately going to come down to–I know they have a release date and they really want to get it out there–but I have to have the time. I’m only one man, right? And then also Gemma’s availability. It’ll come down to availability I’m sure.”
Renner also reveals he’s not actually signed to do a sequel, which comes as a surprise. The two-time Oscar nominee is involved with three different franchises at the moment: THE AVENGERS, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE and THE BOURNE LEGACY, with HANSEL AND GRETEL maybe counting as a fourth. Guess we’ll have to wait and see if he’s able to make the time for another adventure.