It’s always a good sign when there’s hype for a third film in a series before the sequel is even released, and it seems this is the case for the Russo brothers hit action film franchise Extraction. The first movie was released on Netflix in April 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, and gave plenty of people who were stuck at home a slice of much-needed escapism (as well as some great shots of a brooding, all-action Chris Hemsworth).
For a brief period of time, it was even Netflix’s most-watched movie. Within a month of the film’s release, the streaming giant confirmed that Joe Russo had signed on to write a sequel, which is due to be released on Netflix in June of this year.
While the duo was in England, they were asked by Collider’s Steve Weintraub if there were plans for an Extraction threequel. Joe Russo wasn’t coy, saying that while nothing was in development at the moment, there was a chance for a follow-up if Extraction 2 did well. Russo stated:
“I mean, you never want to anticipate the audience’s response, but there’s certainly room for an Extraction 3. There are some surprises in Extraction 2 that could open up the world of Extraction, on top of which, I think Sam Hargrave [who directed Extraction 2] did an incredible job with this film, and I think that he has topped the first one.”
Extraction 2 sees Rake (Hemsworth) sent to Europe, this time to break into a high-security prison to help save the family of a murderous gangster from Georgia. As well as starring in the film, Hemsworth is also serving as a producer alongside the Russo Brothers, as is the director Sam Hargrave.
Hemsworth has continuously praised the series, and in an interview with Entertainment Weekly last year he discussed just how much fun he had filming all the stunts for the sequel:
“We sort of went for the moon. In a very crowded world of action, I think we did something that’s very unique. Not to take anything away from the special-effects-filled sort of Marvel film, but you have a lot of help in post-production there. Obviously, I can’t fly, so they help through me that. Whereas in this film, the action is grounded in reality, and so much of it is in camera. So, it’s a different energy, and the preparation is a lot more extensive.”
In that same interview, Hargrave, who has plenty of experience coordinating intense stunts from previous work on films like Captain America: Civil War was just as effusive about the action sequences in Extraction 2:
“It’s bigger, badder, more deadly, and more dangerous than anything we’ve seen Rake go through.We’ve got fist fights, car chases, explosions, trains, helicopters. It’s like an action fan’s fantasy come to life. At least it was for us action designers.”
All of this points to a blockbuster that might once again break streaming records. And, if it does, we’re sure to see Rake back for a third installment.
