Charlize Theron has spoken about the unlikely development of Atomic Blonde 2, the sequel to her John Wick–style action film.
Charlize Theron has kept herself busy. Since Mad Max: Fury Road, the actress has reinvented herself as a new icon of action cinema, from The Old Guard to Apex. Among her projects, Atomic Blonde stands out the most, a John Wick-esque movie directed by former John Wick co-director David Leitch. Even if the whole thing didn’t have much to say about its setting in a Germany still divided by the Berlin Wall (and let’s not dwell on the gratuitous lesbian romance), we readily admired the film’s technical and choreographic rigor in the fights, notably with its famous one‑take sequence.
If John Wick has earned a string of sequels and spin-offs (the Caine one, featuring Donnie Yen, is currently in production), one might be surprised that Atomic Blonde didn’t receive the same treatment. Yet, the project for a follow-up had been in the works for a long time, at one point even eyed for a direct-to-SVoD release during the Covid era. Its lead star has offered discouraging updates.
The Fall of the Wall
In a sprawling, in-depth interview with Elle, Charlize Theron revisited a few fan expectations. As things stand, she won’t appear as Clea in Avengers: Doomsday, despite her cameo in Doctor Strange 2. She could be fibbing, but one suspects a movie already packed with superheroes wouldn’t risk reintroducing a character everyone has forgotten.
Likewise, Atomic Blonde 2 is off the table. Theron is quite definitive, as she explains in the interview: “I think we missed the boat.” In short, interest in the 2017 action flick has waned, and pursuing a sequel would be riskier. After all, Hollywood’s franchise-first approach may thrive on desperation and outlandish decisions, but a sequel only makes sense within a narrow window, riding the hype of the original.
And by the way, Atomic Blonde had been a modest success. With a budget of $30 million, the film grossed $100 million worldwide. The milestone is symbolic, but not truly the sign of a breakout phenomenon. In the meantime, its director, David Leitch, has staked his claim in the action-film world, first with Bullet Train and then The Fall Guy.
The director also has a packed schedule, as he’s slated to release in 2026 his new movie: How to Rob a Bank (the title says it all). Charlize Theron, for her part, will star in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
