Directed by Peter Berg (known for Lone Survivor and Battleship) and featuring Will Smith, Charlize Theron, and Jason Bateman, Hancock, released in 2007, was a superhero film that sought to redefine the traditional genre. In the era of cookie-cutter superhero content that had spread across the whole genre by the 2000s, films like Hancock and Watchmen aimed to do something different by introducing a specific form of critique on the genre as a whole.

While Zack Snyder’s Watchmen was based on Alan Moore’s seminal graphic novel, what made Hancock even more audacious was the fact that it was a completely original film, one not based on any comic book or other existing property that had come before. So are we about to get a Hancock 2 movie?

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Will Smith plays John Hancock, an alcoholic superhuman who spends his days drinking, breaking public infrastructure, and making a mess of things when occasionally trying to do the right thing. The public is fed up with him, and the government wants to get rid of him, but he doesn't care. A chance encounter with a public relations executive, Ray sees Hancock shed his controversial persona and become a proper, public-serving superhero. But as he gets close to Ray’s family, Hancock discovers a terrible secret, one that will have shocking consequences for all of them.

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At a time when DC was dominating with its Christopher Nolan trilogy and the MCU had just put out its first entry, Iron Man, Hancock managed to make its mark because it was a breath of fresh air. The film dared to ask what would happen if a superhero lived among us; it was crass, it was violent, and it had a sense of humor that had not yet been the norm in superhero cinema. Will Smith seemed to be enjoying himself tremendously, and the action is both brutally shocking and wildly creative. Although critics didn't like the film, audiences loved it, and the film managed to make around four times its budget.

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Director Peter Berg had made it clear prior to Hancock's release that ‘if the film pulled in as much business as it was predicted to do, a sequel, Hancock 2, would likely follow’. Since the film did indeed pull in impressive numbers, a sequel was supposed to be immediately greenlit but here’s where the situation began to spiral. Several months would pass after the film’s release when actor Will Smith was asked about the progress. He outlined that there were ongoing discussions about a possible sequel. He further said that "The ideas aren't developed, but we are building out an entire world; I think people are going to be very surprised at the new world of Hancock."

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In the aftermath of the writers' strike of ‘07 and ‘08, development slowly progressed as screenwriters Adam Fierro and Glen Mazzara were tapped to write the sequel. At the same time, the studio made it clear that they were going to bring back the producing team from the original film to ensure the sequel felt as seamless as possible. When approached, Charlize Theron confirmed that she would definitely be there to reprise her role. Peter Berg, who directed the first film, said they were looking to cast another character who would have powers similar to Hancock and Mary.

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Such back and forth would go on for 12 more years. First, it was Berg who was once again asked in 2012 about the sequel’s progress, and he affirmed that he remained on board. Next, Charlize Theron would drop a bombshell in 2020, stating that there had been no progress on the sequel, although she remained highly interested. Five more years would then pass until 202,5 when Will Smith teased the sequel once more during a surprise appearance on xQc’s Twitch live stream. Smith let it slip that Zendaya is being approached for a pivotal role in the movie. The fact that Zendaya is at least being considered makes it clear that something is cooking behind the scenes.

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With a box office gross of more than 600 million dollars and the film being the fourth highest-grossing film of 2008, one would think that Sony and Will Smith would have fast-tracked collaboration on a sequel to capitalize on the film’s appeal. However, a whopping 17 years have passed since, and multiple attempts to make a follow-up have not materialized. What makes the matter more puzzling is that Smith is no stranger to legacy sequels. He did Bad Boys 3 (2020), a whopping 17 years after Bad Boys 2 (2003), and also returned to the Men in Black franchise after a whole decade.

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There is a possibility that the Hancock 2 situation is the same as the I Am Legend sequel fiasco. 2007’s I Am Legend is another highly successful Will Smith film, and despite repeated attempts to franchise it, its sequel has yet to materialize. We intermittently hear some progress on the film, only for a couple of years to pass and then pin-drop silence. Maybe it's the script, or maybe Smith is demanding too much money (we know how he remains one of the most highly paid actors in the world today). Whatever the case, Hancock 2 seems to be stuck in the same mud as I Am Legend.

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It is to be highlighted that Will Smith is not getting any younger, and in the aftermath of the success of raunchy superhero media such as Deadpool and Peacemaker, there is quite a bit of incentive to make this sequel. Audiences are tired of the same old Marvel and DC stories, and a new Hancock film would thus shake up the landscape considerably. So the question remains: Will Hancock ever get a sequel? We do not know, but there are signs that concerned parties are making a concerted effort behind the scenes to get something together. If they succeed, great news! And if not, Hancock will join the unfortunately growing list of films that absolutely warranted a sequel but could not muster the will to do so.

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