Universal Pictures brings forth some good news and some bad news regarding the status of horror sequel Mama 2. First and foremost, Starry Eyes directors Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kolsch have been brought in to rewrite the script and ultimately direct the follow-up, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
There’s a caveat, though; The Wrap notes that Oscar-nominated actress Jessica Chastain may not reprise her role in the embryonic sequel, after starring opposite Game of Thrones alum Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Annabel in the 2013 sleeper hit. Bearing in mind how the events of Mama unfolded, Chastain opting out of the follow-up really makes a lot of sense in the grand scheme of things; her character may have survived the supernatural ordeal, but at least her absence paves the way for Widmyer and Kolsch to explore different creative avenues around the titular entity.
A prequel, or perhaps some form of standalone story? It’s too soon to tell. Based on an Argentinean short film of the same name, Andrés Muschietti’s Mama released to largely positive reviews in 2013, when genre maestro Guillermo del Toro served as executive producer. Channeling the Blumhouse knack for a low budget, high profile turnover, the film pulled in a respectable $146 million worldwide off the back of a shoestring $15 million budget.
Fast forward to now and Mama 2 is very much in the pipeline – even if it is without Jessica Chastain – with Lava Bear producing in tandem with Scott Bernstein and Russell Ackerman. Meanwhile, Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kolsch are primed to take the reins, though the priority now is whipping that script into shape.
