There’s no doubt that “The Meg” has already become a reference saga for fans of disaster and monster movies. Following in the wake of “Jaws,” the first “Megalodon” movie was a massive box office hit in 2018. Despite not winning over critics, it paved the way for the emergence of “Megalodon 2: The Trench.”
This new movie has already managed to dethrone “Barbie and Oppenheimer” at the box office, and despite once again not being hailed as a cinematic masterpiece, it continues to rack up solid numbers in theaters. That’s why many are hopeful that the franchise will keep expanding, and that we might soon see “Megalodon 3.” But what do we actually know about this potential third sequel?
When will Megalodon 3 be released?
Warner Bros. Discovery has had a year filled with ups and downs, but following the success of “Barbie” and the strong performance of “Megalodon,” it’s evident that the company behind HBO Max has a clear vision of its priorities for the future. Beyond the upcoming Harry Potter remake series or the DC universe being crafted by James Gunn, it’s obvious that “Megalodon” is a brand they intend to leverage to the fullest.
Ben Wheatley, the director of “Megalodon 2: The Abyss,” spoke with Total Film about the possibilities of a third installment in the saga before his own movie was released. However, his response didn’t provide much clarity regarding the future of the franchise: “You don’t want to talk about that until ‘Meg 2’ is out, but I hope so. There’s a lot more to explore in this world. It’s very rich, and its international character is quite interesting.”
Thus, while we don’t have confirmation of a third “Megalodon” installment being in the works, the creative team’s intention is to continue exploring this world of underwater beasts that seems to resonate well with the audience. But what exactly determines the fate of this third installment?
The most crucial factor, of course, is the box office performance of the sequel. According to reports, “Megalodon 2: The Trench” needs to surpass $380 million in worldwide earnings to be considered a success. Currently, it has reached $142 million from an initial budget of $120 million, indicating it’s on a promising trajectory. However, everything hinges on how the audience responds during the upcoming weeks of August.
It’s worth highlighting that the first movie from 2018 managed to rake in $530 million against a $150 million budget. Hence, it is anticipated that the sequel will achieve similar figures, with coming close to $400 million seemingly triggering the announcement of a third installment. Nonetheless, there was a $30 million drop between the first and second parts, so if the box office performance isn’t substantially high, the budget for the next film might see further reductions.
Exactly five years have passed between the first and second installments, but if the third installment is confirmed, it is expected to arrive in August 2026 or 2027. Unlike this time, there isn’t a pandemic in the way. However, there is a significant writers and actors strike in Hollywood that is causing a major disruption across the industry. This situation has the potential to significantly impact the project. The current outlook suggests that the strike won’t be resolved anytime soon, and until it is, many projects remain on hold.
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