As mainstream Hollywood studios have dialed down big-budget action adventures in response to audiences tightening their purses, streaming giants have picked up the slack wherever they can.
Chief amongst them is Netflix, which has been spending hundreds of millions on several such high-budget films each year. One of its most ambitious films was 2021’s Red Notice, starring Dwayne Johnson. Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot.
But years later, despite all the star power and streaming success, fans have been waiting on a sequel and news on a potential release date.
So where is Red Notice 2?
The Journey to Greenlighting Red Notice 2
Immediately following the release of the original, Johnson took to social media to announce that the film had been a success and that there was more to come.
This became official in January 2022 when Deadline broke the news that Netflix was eyeing not one but two Red Notice sequels. Apparently, Netflix was so confident in the property that it wanted to shoot and release the sequels back-to-back.
The streamer confirmed that director Rawson Marshall Thurber and the star trio — Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot — would return, with the sequels expected to continue the story while also introducing new characters.
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Red Notice 2 Release Date, Delays, and What’s Holding It Back
Despite early excitement, updates on Red Notice 2 have been scarce. No official release date, production schedule, or new casting announcements have emerged. The likely culprit? The busy calendars of its three stars, each juggling multiple high-profile projects.
Johnson, Reynolds, and Gadot all have multiple films in the pipeline, and getting them together in the same place for several months might be proving to be quite difficult.
So, whether Red Notice 2 ends up happening or not is entirely up to Netflix.
In July 2025, they released Old Guard 2, 5 years after the first one came out, so it may be too early to discount Red Notice 2 entirely. Netflix understands its audience, and it knows that viewers will always crave entertaining, escapist content, so a long wait of several years for the sequel likely won’t dampen interest.
In fall 2025, Netflix’s Head of Film Scott Stuber outlined that Red Notice 2 was the only sequel they were working on and that the script was nearing completion. Stuber’s comments about Red Notice 2 indicated that the initial plan of two back-to-back sequels was on hold, with Netflix only focusing on one film at a time.
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Big Budget, Bigger Problems: Where Red Notice Fell Short
After several studios had passed on the first flick, citing its high budget, it was Netflix that brought the crime caper vehicle to life.
The film follows Ryan Reynolds as an art thief who unwillingly teams up with Interpol Agent Hartley (Johnson) to catch an even bigger criminal, delivering a globe-trotting blend of high-octane action and light-hearted comedy that showcases both leads at their best.
Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, Red Notice failed to leave much of a lasting impression, with its heavy reliance on CGI drawing significant criticism upon release. Further criticism was levelled at its script, which saw twist after twist to a point where this narrative tool lost all meaning.
Although everyone involved in the film collected big paychecks, the film landed with a monumental thud. As a result, everyone believed that the film’s fate would be like Netflix’s previous big-budget action films (6 Underground and Polar): a one-and-done endeavour with no hope for a follow-up.
However, we were all very wrong.
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How Red Notice Defied Expectations on Netflix
Red Notice was destroyed by critics and everyone else who saw it upon release, yet the action-adventure film was apparently hugely popular on Netflix itself.
The streamer reported the film becoming the most-watched feature on the platform on the day of its release, and a few months later, had hundreds of millions of hours of watchtime.
Suddenly, Netflix realised that it had found its next franchise. However, the road to Red Notice 2 was anything but paved at this point. One of the things working against a proposed sequel was the sheer budget of the first Red Notice.
Made for $ 200 million, Red Notice was unique in the fact that it starred three of the most famous actors in the world with their total salaries reportedly around $80 million alone. If all three stars were to return, the sum they would demand would be more than their first outing.
Would Netflix be willing to roll the dice on this prospect, considering their own metrics for success?
How Netflix Decides Which Films Get Sequels
Reportedly, the streamer has a no-nonsense approach to determining which films should get follow-ups, and they closely analyze every type of data from their films to do so. Red Notice dominated Netflix as the most-streamed film for years, and that success likely pushed the streamer to greenlight a sequel.
Unlike traditional Hollywood studios that sometimes rely on star power or box office hype, the streaming giant takes a far more data-driven and methodical approach. Every metric imaginable is analyzed, from total hours watched, completion rates, and global reach to viewer engagement and audience retention.
This ensures that only films with proven appeal are considered for sequels, minimizing risk while maximizing franchise potential.
For Netflix, the numbers don't lie.
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For now, the fate of Red Notice 2 rests entirely with Netflix.
With Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot all juggling major projects, it may take time—but fans can still dream of one last globe-trotting adventure.
Right now, the only thing we can do is hope that Netflix is able to get the gang back together for one more globe-trotting rodeo!
