Why We Never Got “Alita: Battle Angel” 2

Back in 2019, Alita: Battle Angel landed on screens and quickly became a fan favorite, sparking endless conversations about a sequel. Directed by Robert Rodriguez, James Cameron produced the film with Jon Landau. The film tells the story of Alita, a cyborg who wakes up in a gritty, futuristic world with no memories of her past.

Alita: Battle Angel | Credit: 20th Century Studios

As she uncovers her incredible combat skills, Alita goes on a journey to find the secrets of her identity. While it didn’t shatter box office records, the movie’s new visual style and amazing storyline earned it a loyal fanbase. Years later, the demand for Alita: Battle Angel 2 is as strong as ever, with fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this gritty saga.

The promise of a sequel is still up in the air

The future of Alita: Battle Angel 2 remains uncertain, but the buzz around a sequel has never died down. The original 2019 film, co-written by James Cameron and directed by Robert Rodriguez, has grown into a cult classic over the years.

With its stunning visuals and a gripping story of a cyborg rediscovering her identity, Alita: Battle Angel wrapped up its box office journey with over $400 million against a production budget of $170 million (via Box Office Mojo). While it may not have been a massive blockbuster, the film’s unique take earned it a dedicated fanbase.

Alita: Battle Angel | Credit: 20th Century Studios

Since its release, fans have consistently pushed for a sequel, and their patience was rewarded when it was confirmed that Alita: Battle Angel 2 was in the works. In July 2023, James Cameron reaffirmed the sequel’s development, sharing that he was actively involved in multiple projects, including plans for new Alita films. He said when asked about his upcoming projects (via Movie Web),

And on Avatar, I’m working in Wellington and Los Angeles. And on the new Alita: Battle Angel films, I’ll be working in Austin.

Earlier that year, in May, director Robert Rodriguez revealed ongoing discussions with Cameron and producer Jon Landau, expressing enthusiasm for the follow-up.

Rodriguez said (via Movie Web),

We have been talking about it, so we would love to make one. We haven’t set it for sure yet, but we’re definitely hoping to and talking about it a lot. They’re slammed with all the Avatar stuff, but they’ve definitely been engaging in it.

However, progress has been slow, largely due to Cameron’s commitments to his Avatar franchise. Despite this, the creative team has remained optimistic, keeping the hope alive for Alita’s return to the big screen, even if no timeline has been set just yet.

Producer Jon Landeau had also given some promising updates regarding the sequel

Jon Landau | Credit: Instagram\@jonplandau

In recent years, producer Jon Landau shared several updates that kept hopes alive for Alita: Battle Angel 2. Back in December 2022, he expressed his desire to revisit the world of Alita, hinting that discussions with director Robert Rodriguez were underway.

According to The Direct, he said,

Well, there’s a little film called ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ that we’d love to circle back and do a sequel to. And we’ve been talking to Robert Rodriguez about that, and hopefully, that comes to fruition.

Christoph Waltz in Alita: Battle Angel | Credit: 20th Century Studios

Landau emphasized the team’s enthusiasm for continuing the story, but he also made it clear that setting a firm release date wasn’t on the cards yet. He wanted to avoid committing to timelines, knowing how easily fans and media could turn those into points of contention.

By May 2023, Landau provided another glimpse into the sequel’s progress, explaining that the team was actively working on the project. One of the primary focuses was pushing the boundaries of technology to achieve even greater levels of realism and emotion in humanoid characters.

He said (via Screen Rant),

We’re working on it. I think what we’ve learned from Avatar is how much more facial nuance and subtlety that we can get into characters that we want to be emotional and emote that are humanoid. 

Despite the promising updates, the project faced a heartbreaking setback. On July 5, 2024, Landau passed away after battling cancer. His loss left a significant void in the creative team, as he was deeply involved in shaping the vision of the sequel.

What lies ahead for Alita: Battle Angel 2?

James Cameron | Credit: Image by Gage Skidmore/CC-BY-SA-2.0/Wikimedia Commons

The road ahead for Alita: Battle Angel 2 is filled with challenges, but the dream isn’t over yet. The biggest hurdle lies in James Cameron’s packed schedule.

With the next installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, set for release in December 2025 and several more sequels planned, Cameron’s attention is tied up for the foreseeable future. However, knowing Cameron’s impressive track record, it’s not impossible for him to carve out time to move the Alita sequel forward.

Adding to the complexity is the unfortunate passing of producer Jon Landau in July 2024. Landau had been a crucial part of the creative team, helping shape Alita: Battle Angel into the fan-favorite it became. His absence leaves a huge gap that will be difficult to fill, making the path to a sequel even more steeper.

Alita: Battle Angel | Credit: 20th Century Studios

Despite these setbacks, Alita: Battle Angel 2 isn’t off the table. The discussions and updates from the past years prove that there is still interest and intent to bring the cyborg’s story back to life. While progress has been slow, fans remain hopeful that one day, Alita will return to the big screen with all the heart and spectacle they loved in the original.

Alita: Battle Angel is available to stream on Disney Plus.