CON AIR hit theaters in June of 1997 and has since gone on to solidify itself as a ridiculous, albeit great, action movie. I was rejected from the box office at least five times trying to get into this movie without an adult; I would eventually watch it at home ad nauseam eventually killing my VHS copy. A sequel to the movie has been floating around certain corners of the blogosphere for years; not surprisingly since Simon West’s directorial debut went on to earn over $220 million worldwide, make Nicolas Cage an action star (for better or worse), and John Malkovich the go-to nut job. I’m more than a little surprised there hasn’t been a sequel already!
West recently spoke with ScreenDaily about what he’d like to do with the follow-up:
"I would do it if it was completely turned on its head. Con Air in space, for example – a studio version where they’re all robots or the convicts are reanimated as super-convicts, or where the good guys are bad guys and the bad guys are good guys. Something shocking. If it was clever writing it could work."
As crazy as that sounds, I still can’t tell if he’s being flippant or actually thinks that’s a good idea. At this point there isn’t a script for CON AIR 2; it’s not in development in any way shape or form at any studio. I know horror movies go to space to die (HELLRAISER: BLOODLINE, LEPRECHAUN 4: IN SPACE, JASON X) but an action movie? Personally I would rather see Bruckheimer and West conjure up an idea for a grounded sequel…on Earth. The only snag would be getting Nicholas Cage to say yes to the project; he’s pretty picky with his filmography.
Would you want CON AIR 2 in space? What other action franchise could make its way there?