DespiteThe Gray Manhaving only just been released onNetflix, plans for a franchise are already well underway, with a spinoff now in development. Coming courtesy ofThe Hollywood Reporter, details of the spinoff of spy thrillerThe Gray Manare currently being kept under wraps, but it has been revealed that “Deadpool writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese are behind the script.”
The newslines up with recent rumors that first emerged back in May,which claimed thatThe Gray Manspinoff project would be a prequel centering onChris Evansas Lloyd Hansen, the psychopathic former CIA agent who is contracted to capture Ryan Gosling’s Sierra Six in the first outing. Considering that Evans’ delightfully overblown, scenery-chewing performance has been highlighted by many as one of the most entertaining parts ofThe Gray Man, it makes sense why Netflix and directing duo The Russo Brothers would want to continue with the character.
While the spinoff being a prequel detailing the no doubt sordid, violent past of Lloyd Hansen has not yet been confirmed, all we know at present is that the project will explore a different element ofThe Gray Manuniverse, a Lloyd Hansen tale penned by the writers behindDeadpoolis far too good a match to not be true.
The Gray Man 2Has Now Been Given the Greenlight by Netflix
Since the beginning,The Russo Brothers have not been shy about wantingThe Gray Manto spawn an action movie franchise.
“What we’re doing on Gray Man that’s different [is]… we’re not gonna answer every question in the first movie,” Joe Russo said back in 2020. “This is being conceived as a series of films, and again, potentially branching out, we could follow other characters, but we’re not gonna answer every question in the movie. So you’re gonna finish the movie, [and] have a complete story, but you’re still gonna have questions about the wider universe. And I think that’s one way to break the model a little bit, is to not give the audience everything in one film. Don’t have a close-ended narrative. Have an open-ended narrative that’s [like] a chapter in a book.”
With the firstThe Gray Mannow premiering on Netflix (where it hasbeen met with mixed reviewsbut high viewing numbers) the Russos have clearly gotten their wish, with the spinoff announcedalongside confirmation thatThe Gray Man 2will also go ahead.While details of the sequel also remain under wraps, it has been revealed that Ryan Gosling, directors Joe and Anthony Russo, and co-writer Stephen McFeely will all return.
Based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Mark Greaney,The Gray Mancenters on Court Gentry (Ryan Gosling), the CIA’s most skilled mercenary whose true identity is known to none,who accidentally uncovers dark agency secrets. Soon, he finds himself pursued by Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans), a psychopathic former colleague, who puts a bounty on his head, setting off a global manhunt by international assassins.
