Will A Killing Them Softly Sequel Ever Be Made?
Helmed by Andrew Dominik and featuring the on-screen charisma of Brad Pitt in the central role, ‘Killing Them Softly’ is a cautionary tale against capitalism wrapped in a neo-noir crime thriller. The story, which is based on George V. Higgins’ novel ‘Cogan’s Trade,’ follows a heist that goes inadvertently wrong. At this juncture, suave but scornful hitman Jackie Cogan is summoned by the men in power to cover up the mess. Set against the backdrop of the 2008 economic recession, the film caused quite an uproar at the time of its release. If you are looking for the prospects of a sequel, let us keep you informed.
Killing Them Softly Sequel Release Date
‘Killing Them Softly’ had its first screening on May 22, 2012, at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. The film was originally scheduled to premiere on September 21, 2012, but it had a limited release in Spain, UK, and Ireland. To avoid competition with ‘The Master,’ the film hit the US and Canadian theatres on November 30, 2012.
Let us now consider the prospects of a sequel to the tense crime thriller. The director himself did not divulge anything about a sequel. The film has been adapted for the screen from the novel ‘Cogan’s Trade’ by George V. Higgins, and the cinematic version expends all its source material. So, the prospects of a sequel are not looking bright. The writer has written a bunch of other crime thrillers, and those may provide the director with enough material to pursue another project.
But let us first look at the reception of the movie. Upon its grand premiere at Cannes Film Festival, the film received critical applaud due to its timely exploration of the American ground reality. The film also includes performances from some well-known faces in the industry, with the highlight being an edgy Brad Pitt. So, there were ample good reasons for the movie to perform well at the box office. And perform, it did. While the reception in the home country was not so exciting, the film managed to pull off a gross box office collection of $37.9 million against its meager budget of $15 million.
However, the film walks quite a controversial line, and the audience’s reaction was polarized. An indictment of the capitalist market through a cynical portrayal of twenty-first-century America was a hard pill to swallow, and that showed in critical reviews. Moreover, barring a few exceptions, the neo-noir thriller is not a genre known for spin-offs and sequels – they are usually tales told in a single installment. Also, the ending of the film is quite well-rounded. Therefore, it seems highly unlikely that a ‘Killing Them Softly’ sequel will ever be made. Now, some of us may want to see a spin-off revolving around the tragicomic character of New York Mickey, but that is just wishful thinking.
