The H Collective, the producers of the hit 2019 horror movie Brightburn, are said to be working on a sequel after launching their new company H3 Entertainment, per a report by Deadline. They plan to use H3 to integrate the Metaverse, Web3, and AI Into a slate of films, and they are also said to be looking to make a sequel to the 2019 low-budget feature, which was essentially a dark evil riff on Superman lore.
The founders of The H Collective are Mark Rau and Kent Huan, and their past film projects at The H Collective include Brightburn and The Parts You Lose. Brightburn starred Elizabeth Banks and was also produced by James Gunn. Screen Gems later acquired the picture.
THE H COLLECTIVE PLANNING A BRIGHTBURN SEQUEL
At a budget of about $6 million, Brightburn ended up making $33 million, so it was likely still very profitable. The film didn’t get great reviews from critics, scoring only 57% on Rotten Tomatoes. There hadn’t been much talk about a sequel to the horror flick, until now.
According to Rau, H3 Entertainment wants to incorporate new technology into the production process that is currently under development, which includes a sequel to Brightburn. The IP is currently co-owned by the H Collective and producer James Gunn. They are also reportedly developing a TV series regarding the crypto trend called The Classic of the Mountains and the Seas, a show about the emigration of Jews to Shanghai during WWII called Shadow Song, and a family movie titled Prince of the Seas.
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H3 Entertainment is reportedly financed by seed investors based in London, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and it’s currently based in Dubai and Hong Kong with a reported staff of five people. Also, The H Collective is said to still be in operation.
There aren’t too many other details yet on plans for the Brightburn sequel. It’s unknown if Gunn will be working on it or if he even has the time. Gunn is currently serving as the co-head of DC Studios and planning out the first slate of films, including the Superman: Legacy film that’s in the works that Gunn is supposed to write and direct. Provided, the ongoing dual strikes of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the actors union (SAG-AFTRA) against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) can be resolved. Once the ongoing strikes are resolved, Gunn would likely have to move full steam ahead on Superman: Legacy and the other DC releases.
The same would go for Brightburn, likely can be done to move forward for a sequel until the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes are resolved. The WGA has been on strike since early May for almost five months. SAG-AFTRA declared its own labor strike against the AMPTP on July 14, and the guild has been on strike for the last two months. While the strikes currently have no end in sight, it’s now been revealed that the WGA is going back to the negotiating table with the AMPTP on Wednesday, Sept. 20, so there’s that at least.
Interestingly enough, Rau and Huang appear serious about using new and emerging technologies in their film projects, which is a very controversial topic right now. Specifically, WGA and SAG-AFTRA are seeking protection for their members against AI replacement. Speaking in the Deadline article, Rau and Haung stated, “H3 is responding to shifts in the industry, aiming for a balanced and equitable approach to the current entertainment production process.”
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Another project The H Collective is also said to be working on is a fourth installment of the xXx series. The last installment, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, marking Vin Diesel’s return to the franchise, was released in 2017. The film did poorly domestically, making only $44 million. However, it did better overseas, making over $301 million and earning $346 million worldwide.
As of now, Brightburn 2 does not have an official release date. But what do you think of the news? Do you think a Brightburn sequel is a good idea? What do you think about H3 Entertainment’s plans with emerging technologies? Please share your thoughts on the news with us on The Illuminerdi’s social media.
SOURCE: Deadline
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