Wanted 2 pushes forward with original writers; James McAvoy returning

Writers Derek Haas and Michael Brandt (“3:10 to Yuma”, “Invincible”) will return to the world of slow-mo gunfights and super spies witgh a sequel to their 2008 flick, “Wanted”.

With Chris Morgan, Haas and Brandt helped the action-thriller, directed by Timur Bekmambetov and starring Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy, take home a sumly $314million worldwide. There’s been talk on-and-off about a sequel to the film for years, with Universal even hiring Evan Spiliotopoulos to nut out a storyline for a possible sequel at one point.

Haas himself revealed the news via Twitter.

“Michael and I were just hired by Uni to write WANTED 2,” posted Haas.

Spiliotopoulos’ script will serve as the launchpad for a new draft by Haas and Brandt. It sounds like James McAvoy will be involved (Angelina Jolie was attached earlier on to reprise her role from the first film but isn’t believed to be a part of the latest incarnation).

Speaking to TheWrap, Haas said, “We just always loved the ‘Wanted’ world and loved working with Universal and [director] Timur [Bekmambetov] on the first one, so we’re excited. [Wanted 2] is going to take off after the events of what just happened…Pick up Wesley [James McAvoy’s charater in the original] a few years later and go back in for another round.”

Haas and Brandt were also onboard “Beverly Hills Cop 4” there for a while but Paramount have decided not to use their script.

I liked “Wanted”… but does it need a sequel? Let’s chat about the possibilities below…