Everything We Know About Ready Player Two

Will a Ready Player Two movie ever happen? In 2018, Warner Bros. released an adaptation of Ernest Cline’s 2011 novel Ready Player One, directed by the iconic Steven Spielberg. The film pleased moviegoers and critics alike with its world-building and pop culture references, including an extended homage to Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 classic The Shining. As of now, the Ready Player Two novel hasn’t been published, but it seems that cinematic sequel may be in the works.

Ready Player One stars Tye Sheridan as Wade Watts, an Ohio native who immerses himself in a virtual reality realm known as OASIS (Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation). The teenager plays under the name Parzival, and participates in an Easter egg challenge orchestrated by OASIS’ late co-founder James Halliday (Mark Rylance). Parzival teams up with fellow “Gunter” Samantha Cook aka Art3mis (Olivia Cooke) and competes in three challenges while fending off the tech mogul Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn).

Cline began writing the novel Ready Player Two just months before the Ready Player One movie released. Since then, the author has revealed that he’s been inspired by the success of Spielberg’s film, but has also acknowledged the difficulties of adapting such a story. In September 2020, an original cast member from Ready Player One expressed interest in a sequel role, which sparked discussions about whether the movie series will actually continue.

Ready Player Two Could Be Happening

The novel Ready Player Two will release on November 24, 2020. Cline reportedly began working on the sequel way back in 2015 (according to Ready Player One screenwriter Zak Penn), though the news wasn’t confirmed until late 2017. On October 9, 2020, Cline officially began his virtual book tour for New York Comic Con 2020 by speaking with Wil Wheaton, who will reprise his role as the audio book reader for Ready Player Two. As of now, Warner Bros. hasn’t officially greenlit a Ready Player Two movie, but that will most likely change in the near future.

Ready Player Two Movie Release Date

Warner Bros. initially acquired the movie rights to Ready Player One before Cline’s book was released. Filming commenced six years later in July 2016 and then wrapped in September 2016. Eighteen months later, Ready Player One premiered in March 2018. Moving forward, the best case scenario is that a Ready Player Two movie will be greenlit by early 2021 and filming will begin (and finish) by the end of the year. In that scenario, the sequel would theoretically release in the first half of 2023. Given that there will likely be delays and/or scheduling conflicts, it seems reasonable to predict that Ready Player Two will release in 2024. That timeline would theoretically allow Spielberg to return as director, as his West West Story update will release in December 2021, and he’ll then direct The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara.

Ready Player Two Cast

Assuming that Warner Bros. will move forward with a Ready Player Two movie, Cooke will presumably reprise her role due to contractual obligations. As for Ready Player One’s male lead, Sheridan is ready to return for a sequel. In September 2020, the actor discussed Ready Player Two and said, “I don’t really know what the plan is yet… I loved working on that film, so yeah, I hope… I hope we get to do another.”

Ready Player Two Story Details

Penguin Random House released a synopsis for Ready Player Two, which teases a technological advancement that would transform the OASIS and make it more “wondrous” – and addictive, of course.

Days after OASIS founder James Halliday’s contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything. Hidden within Halliday’s vaults, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS more wondrous — and addictive — then even Wade dreamed possible. With it comes a new riddle and a new quest, a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize, and an unexpected, impossibly powerful, new and dangerous rival awaits, one who will kill millions to get what he wants. Wade’s life and the future of the OASIS are again at stake, but this time, the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.

Beyond a brief summary, not much is known about Ready Player Two‘s story, but it would undoubtedly contain more pop culture Easter eggs and references for fans to enjoy.

About The Author

Q.V. Hough
(1892 Articles Published)

Q.V. Hough is a senior writer at Screen Rant. He’s also the founding editor at Vague Visages, and has contributed to RogerEbert.com and Fandor.

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