Robert Rodriguez Is Still Holding Out Hope For ‘Alita: Battle Angel 2’
By Hoai-Tran Bui/Jan. 1, 2021 9:00 am EST
Alita: Battle Angel is as violent and dark as they come, so it’s probably not likely that Disney would be keen to jump on the franchise for its family-friendly service. But Disney is also fond of familiar IPs, and Alita: Battle Angel has become one thanks to a rabid online fanbase for the 2019 film (as an anime fan, I can attest that the fanbase for the original manga/anime was virtually non-existent until then).
“I think anything is possible. Disney bought Fox, and they have Disney+, so that is worth the conversation. I know other people would love to see another, and I would love to do another one. As far as where it would go or how it would be made, I think streaming has opened up many opportunities such as sequels. It’s already a pre-sold concept, it’s already got a built-in audience that wants to see it, and then it’s delivered to them in a way that’s the easiest for them to consume. So, it’s not a bad idea.”
So perhaps Disney could see fit to greenlight a sequel to Alita: Battle Angel based on the box office success and the potential for a franchise. If not a straightforward sequel for Disney+, perhaps a more family-friendly animated series, after all, Rodriguez’s familiarity with kid’s movies would probably make him more amenable to that shift. Wouldn’t it be hilarious if Alita: Battle Angel went full-circle from anime to live-action, back to animated again?
