Why Upgrade 2 Hasn't Happened Yet (& How It's A Blessing)

Summary Despite no sequel yet, Upgrade's success sets the stage for a promising future for the franchise.

Plans for Upgrade 2 have been discussed since 2018, showing ongoing interest in expanding the universe.

Consideration for a TV series spin-off may allow for deeper exploration of key themes and connect with a larger audience.

Despite its success, a movie sequel to the 2018 hit Upgrade has yet to be released – a situation that, while frustrating for fans, is actually good news for the franchise's potential future. Directed and written by Saw veteran Leigh Whannell, Upgrade made an outsized impact on release, despite its small budget and relatively limited promotion. Yet while the movie explored some interesting ideas and laid the groundwork for a potential follow-up, an expanded franchise may actually benefit from a hiatus away from the spotlight.

Made for a budget of just $3 million, Upgrade was a critical and commercial hit when it released in theaters, taking in around $17 million globally. Much of the movie's success can be attributed to an intriguing and timely premise, exploring a future where technology and biology have been combined to allow computerized human augmentation. Predictably, this status quo soon unravels, turning Upgrade into an effective action-thriller and a sly critique of society's relationship with technology. Ideas like these are perhaps best suited to exploration across multiple stories. However, despite the tantalizing potential, it is for the best that Upgrade 2 still hasn't happened.

Related Upgrade Ending Explained: What REALLY Happened With STEM Upgrade features an interesting sci-fi premise, so we break down everything about the movie's shocking ending and what happened with STEM.

Plans For Upgrade 2 Have Been Discussed Since 2018

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Although it might seem like Upgrade is somewhat inert following the first movie, the reality is that plans for a follow-up have been on the table since the first film's release. Despite originally being intended as a standalone project, the movie's positive critical and commercial reception created an opportunity for a sequel. In an interview with Fandom to promote Whannell's 2020 movie The Invisible Man, producer Jason Blum confirmed:

I would love an Upgrade sequel. I will say that we haven’t put it to bed yet. We have no immediate plans, but Upgrade is very much on my mind — and on Leigh’s mind as well.

In addition to tentative sequel plans, Whannell has already expanded the Upgrade universe. In an interview with Today Online (also to promote The Invisible Man), the writer-director confirmed that the two films are actually set in the same universe, with the Cobalt company appearing in both. This shows that, while Upgrade 2 still hasn't happened, the story's setting is still growing.

Why A TV Show Is A Better Idea Than Upgrade 2

While a cinematic follow-up may be some time away, concrete plans are in place to make a sequel TV series to Upgrade. In 2020, Deadline Hollywood reported that:

Upgrade the series picks up a few years after the events of the film and broadens the universe with an evolved version of STEM and a new host – imagining a world in which the government repurposes STEM to help curb criminal activity.

The TV format will make this Upgrade very different from the theatrical original.

However, despite the disadvantages of TV in terms of scale, there are several reasons why this approach is better than another movie. The extended format will allow Upgrade to fully wrestle with its key themes of individual autonomy and the dangers of AI, without having to compromise due to runtime. There's also the fact that Upgrade's warnings about sentient AI seem increasingly prescient, with the delays only helping the project connect with its audience. The lack of an official Upgrade sequel may be frustrating, but the situation could help the TV follow-up become an even bigger success.

Sources: Fandom, Today Online, Deadline Hollywood