The long-awaited sequel to 2003’s The Italian Job may finally be getting the green light. But news of who Paramount is eyeing to direct may have some otherwise excited fans pumping the brakes.
According to Deadline, the studio is in early talks with Paul Feig about taking the wheel.
Paul Feig – The Movie Times, YouTube
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Feig infamously directed the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, which continues drawing backlash ten years later. The director found more recent success with last year’s The Housemaid, starring Sydney Sweeney. Still, with a resume primarily built around female-focused films and comedies, Feig seems an unusual choice for a heist-based action film.
The Italian Job Almost Got a Sequel Decades Ago
The Italian Job was loosely based on the 1969 film of the same name, with both movies featuring elaborate chase sequences involving Mini Coopers. The remake featured an all-star cast that included Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Seth Green, and Edward Norton.
While the 2003 film brought in a respectable $176 million worldwide, 2 Fast 2 Furious—which opened the very next week—left it in the dust with around $236 million.
Still, Paramount was willing to move forward with a sequel, reportedly titled The Brazilian Job. In interviews, Green claimed to have read several drafts of the script. He suggested that the film eventually fell into development hell because of leadership changes at Paramount.
Statham and Theron eventually joined the Fast and the Furious family themselves. Director F. Gary Gray followed when he helmed The Fate of the Furious in 2017.
Paramount Is Looking to Revive Old Franchises
With Paramount now under David Ellison’s leadership, the timing may finally be right. After the studio’s merger with Skydance, the new CEO promised an increased focus on reviving stagnant franchises. Since then, he has also moved to acquire Warner Bros.
David Ellison talks to Bloomberg – YouTube, Bloomberg Podcasts
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To alleviate industry concerns about contraction, Ellison has offered theater owners contractual guarantees—with financial penalties if Paramount fails to deliver—that a combined Paramount-Warner Bros. would release at least 30 movies theatrically each year if the proposed merger is completed.
Nostalgia is also having a moment in Hollywood. The Devil Wears Prada 2, Scream 7, and Toy Story 5 all performed well this year, while more sequels to films from the late 1990s and early 2000s are on the way.
Paramount is also working on a follow-up to the 2003 rom-com How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Another Italian Job movie would easily fall in line with Ellison’s plans and broader industry trends.
Is Paul Feig the Right Director?
What does not seem to fit quite as neatly is Paul Feig. However, the project remains in its earliest stages, with Paramount reportedly still looking for a writer.
Feig has certainly demonstrated that he can deliver successful movies, and The Housemaid gave him a recent hit outside the straightforward comedy genre with which he is most closely associated. But The Italian Job is a different kind of assignment, built around elaborate heists, car chases, action set pieces, and the chemistry of an ensemble crew.
Charlize Theron in The Italian Job – Paramount Pictures
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That does not mean Feig cannot handle the material. Directors routinely move between genres, and there is no indication yet of what direction Paramount intends to take with the sequel. Still, his involvement will inevitably remind longtime moviegoers of Ghostbusters, another beloved property that returned after a lengthy absence under Feig’s direction.
Paramount has already spent more than 20 years trying to get another Italian Job off the ground. If the studio is finally ready to pull the project out of development hell, fans will likely want a sequel that captures what made the 2003 movie work rather than another attempt to reinvent a familiar property.
For now, there is not even a script, much less a production start date. But after more than two decades of false starts, the fact that Paramount is actively pursuing a director suggests The Italian Job may finally be getting another chance to hit the road.
How do you feel about Paul Feig directing a sequel to The Italian Job? Sound off and let us know!
