Summary
- James Gunn revealed he only owns half of the rights to Brightburn, making it difficult for a sequel to even be produced at all.
- Because of rights issues, Gunn says Brightburn 2 probably is never going to happen.
- Brightburn's ending set up a superhero horror universe, a unique idea that is unlikely to happen anymore.
James Gunn has offered a killer update for Brightburn 2, revealing why the possible sequel still hasn't been made yet. The superhero horror movie follows the story of Brandon Breyer, a young boy with Superman-like powers who becomes a serial killer. Talks of a sequel have been happening since 2019, however, there's been no confirmation that a sequel is going to be happening anytime soon.
Posting on Threads, Gunn revealed a major reason why Brightburn 2 hasn't happened yet is because of an issue of rights to the franchise.
He says that he only owns half the rights to the movie, meaning his sole input isn't enough to legally make a sequel. He ends by saying he's doubtful a follow-up is going to happen, killing all talks of the film's story continuing beyond the original.
How Brightburn 2 Could Have Expanded The Budding James Gunn Franchise
Gunn shutting down the possibility of there ever being a sequel to his superhero horror movie is extremely disappointing, as the movie had potential to expand far beyond its initial premise. The ending of Brightburn shows Brandon getting away with his murders and later committing acts of terror under his supervillain moniker. However, it's also revealed that there are other evil versions of well-known superheroes – namely Wonder Woman and Aquaman – now terrorizing the world. This ending set the stage for a universe of unique superhero horror movies that now won't see the light of day.
Despite the probability that Brightburn 2 isn't getting made, there's still plenty of superhero-related projects to look forward to from Gunn.
If the Brightburn universe had continued, it could have explored horror stories involving multiple villains terrorizing the world at the same time. Since the movie is likely to remain a standalone story, it's unclear if these superpowered individuals would have ended up working together to terrorize humanity, or begin fighting one another. The movie set the stage for a possibly apocalyptic scenario, one that could have been thoroughly explored if a sequel were ever made.
Related
In Brightburn, there are five other meteors in addition to Brandon's, and there are many theories about what those meteors are. Here's every theory.
However, despite the probability that Brightburn 2 isn't getting made, there's still plenty of superhero-related projects to look forward to from Gunn. Him being the head of the DCU coupled with directing and writing Superman, the debut film of the new shared universe, means he'll still be able to show off his propensity for high-quality superhero movies. Even though his unique horror franchise isn't going to be continuing, the creative's upcoming DC projects can make up for the sequel's nullified status.
Source: James Gunn/Threads
The 2019 horror film Brightburn puts a dark spin on the Superman mythos by following a young boy with superhuman powers who uses them for evil instead of good. Directed by David Yarovesky and produced by James Gunn, the film stars Jackson A. Dunn, Elizabeth Banks, and David Denman.
- Director
- David Yarovesky
- Release Date
- May 24, 2019
- Writers
- Mark Gunn , Brian Gunn
- Cast
- Steve Agee , Emmie Hunter , Meredith Hagner , Terence Rosemore , Jackson A. Dunn , Shaun McMillan , David Denman , Elizabeth Becka , Gregory Alan Williams , Christian Finlayson , Matt Jones , Becky Wahlstrom , Elizabeth Banks , Jennifer Holland , Stephen Blackehart
- Runtime
- 90 Minutes
- Budget
- $6–12 million
FAQs
James Gunn revealed he only owns half of the rights to Brightburn, making it difficult for a sequel to even be produced at all. Because of rights issues, Gunn says Brightburn 2 probably is never going to happen. Brightburn's ending set up a superhero horror universe, a unique idea that is unlikely to happen anymore.
Are they making Brightburn 2? ›
Responding to a fan on Threads who asked for an update on Brightburn 2, Gunn confirmed that there were talks about a sequel “early on,” presumbly right after the original opened in theaters. However, Gunn shared that “the rights are all f—ed up (I only own half), so it's unlikely that it will ever happen.”
What happened to the Brightburn universe? ›
In April 2021, Sony signed a deal with Disney giving them access to their legacy content, including Brightburn to stream on Disney+ and Hulu and appear on Disney's linear television networks.
What is Brightburn weakness? ›
Weaknesses. As powerful as Brandon is, it has been proven that he is not completely invincible. Brandon's Spaceship: The metal alloy that the ship is made of has been shown to be the only thing that can harm Brandon.
Why Brightburn failed? ›
While its subversion of the Superman origin story through the prism of a horror film received praise, many critics felt that it didn't dive deep enough into the complexities of its premise.
Could Brightburn beat Superman? ›
In a straightforward physical battle without any external factors, it's likely that Superman, with his years of experience as a hero and his strong moral compass, could prevail.
Is Brightburn an evil Superman? ›
"Brightburn" tells a 'what if' tale about an evil Superman, or in this case, Superboy. It is a horror take on the classic mythos with Superman now being a 12-year-old boy who turns out to be evil.
Can Brightburn be killed? ›
Superhuman Durability: Brandon is immune to most physical harm, with the only thing that can harm him being the alien metal his ship made of. He discovered this by sticking his hand into the rotating blade of a lawnmower, crushing the blade in the process.
Why did Brightburn turn evil? ›
He has moral agency issues as the ship is established to be influencing Brandon's personality and causing him to become more evil. This also implies he was driven by the nature of his aliens. He did genuinely love his parents. He initially tried to be good for their sake and did his best to keep his secret from them.
Can Brightburn survive a nuke? ›
Despite not being completely invulnerable, Mark is extremely strong and durable. He's tanked a nuke to the face, survived an explosion that destroyed Las Vegas, and even survived battling the warrior Thragg in the sun which is about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to Watch Brightburn. Right now you can watch Brightburn on Starz, Starz Roku Premium Channel, and Starz Amazon Channel. You are able to stream Brightburn by renting or purchasing on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home.
What movie is like Superman but evil? ›
Remember Brightburn? The James Gunn-produced film that reimagined Superman as a malevolent force? While it didn't become a mainstream hit, it gained a cult following and still gives us chills with its portrayal of an unstoppable, yet disturbingly human-like, threat.
Is Brightburn DC or Marvel? ›
Since everyone knows his tale, James Gunn put a twist on it to make it a horror film. Brightburn is like an alternate reality of the DC Universe, where a pod from another planet still crashed on earth, carrying a baby with extraordinary powers inside, who gets adopted by a family in Kansas.
Was Brightburn a kryptonian? ›
Debut. Brandon Breyer is a kryptonian child who was sent to earth by the Doomsday Cult while they hid on a planet near Krypton. He was sent to earth at the home of Tori and Kyle Breyer. Upon turning 12 a dark turn started to take over.
How old is Brandon Brightburn? ›
However, as he turns 12 years old, he starts to reach puberty and begins to change. He constantly talks in an alien language and goes to the barn where his spaceship is locked in a storage. While trying to mow the lawn, Brandon discovers his indestructible strength.
Is the crimson bolt in Brightburn? ›
The Crimson Bolt makes a brief appearance as a cameo in the superhero-horror film Brightburn. A photograph of the Crimson Bolt can be spotted on the news reports circulating the whereabouts of those like Brightburn & others. This means that Brightburn is probably the sequel to Super.
