Netflix developing a sequel to Adam Wingard’s Death Note

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

When it came to Netflix's DEATH NOTE film, I found it to be forgettable at best. The mixed reviews which the film received indicates that many felt the same, but that isn't about to stop the streaming service from moving forward with a sequel to the film. Buried in a THR report about Netflix's movie division was the news that they're developing a sequel to DEATH NOTE, which Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandos called a "sizable" success. Greg Russo, an up-and-coming writer attached to the reboot of RESIDENT EVIL and MORTAL KOMBAT, is said to be writing the script.

Based upon the popular manga series by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, DEATH NOTE follows Light Turner (Nat Wolff), a high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook which grants him the power to kill any person simply by writing down their name on the pages. Helping him uncover the mysteries of the Death Note is Ryuk (Willem Dafoe), the bored demon who dropped the Death Note into the human realm in the first place. Of course, you can't just kill scores of people without someone trying to stop you, and in DEATH NOTE, that person is L (Lakeith Stanfield), a highly intelligent and skilled detective who is determined to capture Light and end his reign of terror. The first film was helmed by Adam Wingard, who will be directing the upcoming GODZILLA VS. KONG, and he's previously said that he pitched the project to Netflix as a potential franchise.

At the end of the day, there are a lot of places to explore where to take Light. And ultimately the series is sort of about almost his downfall as a character. This is sort of the beginning of it or the origin of it. There are definitely lots of places to go, and we know generally where we would take it. Hopefully people will watch it and Netflix will order a sequel. They definitely are ready to. They just need people to watch it.

Adam Wingard said that the goal was for there to be two or three DEATH NOTE movies, and as the first film ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, I suppose there are some who will be excited that the story will continue. "We kept it open as a sequel.  When I went to Netflix initially, I pitched it as at least a two-film series, maybe three, knowing this was the origin story," Wingard continued. "We definitely designed the film so it plays a closed loop. Sequels are never guaranteed. They have to be earned. On some level, I really love that the movie ends with all the characters damaged. It's such an unconventional ending for any kind of comic book film, and I really like that." Although I didn't love the film, I was a fan of Willem Dafoe's performance as Ryuk. Is that enough to get me back for more? Probably. I'm a simple man.

Are you down for a DEATH NOTE sequel?