Alita: Battle Angel is not exactly a gargantuan hit but it still a respectable haul at the box-office. And while I wasn’t a huge fan of the story personally, I understand why fans are clamoring for a sequel.
For one, Robert Rodriguez’s passion shone through the movie, as he stunningly recreated manga panels on the big-screen. Coupled with Rosa Salazaar’s performance as Alita and the CGI, there was a lot to like about the film. Of course, that doesn’t mean a sequel was always guarantee considering how money talks in Hollywood. Yet, I do believe that Alita has franchise potential.
One of the last tentpoles to be release under the Fox banner, Alita: Battle Angel is now effectively a Disney property. It wouldn’t come off as a surprise if the cyberpunk series wasn’t at the top of the Mouse’s priority list. Especially considering how busy they are with the launch of Disney Plus and the millionth live-action remake of their classics.
What Does Christoph Waltz Have To Say?
With all this uncertainty surrounding Alita’s future, fans have a new ray hope to flock towards. Christoph Waltz, who plays Alita’s father Dyson Ido has petitioned for a sequel to the 2019 film. Whilst being interviewed for his new film, “The Dangerous Game” by Collider, Waltz stated that Disney’s acquisition of Fox may have played a part in a sequel not being greenlit.
Waltz was quote as saying that he was disappoint in not having heard of any news and that it was all up to Disney. And I understand his frustrations, considering how Waltz loved playing Ido and breathed life into the character.
Personal Thoughts (Alita: Battle Angel)
I personally thought that the movie suffered massively from setting up a sequel rather being its own thing. Given how big of a gamble this movie , it made little sense to dwell so heavily on a sequel. This excessiveness on Hollywood’s part is a shame considering how much these films would benefit if only there were a bit more focused.
Batman V Superman is a prime example of this, a mess of a movie that burns through six different comic stories in one go. I understand that quality films don’t always succeed at the box-office, but that’s no reason for resorting to mediocre storytelling.
