Paramount Pictures is in talks with Paul Feig to direct a follow-up to the 2003 remake of The Italian Job. Deadline reports the studio is “chatting up” the Housemaid director for the project.
The film is expected to be a “follow-up” to the F. Gary Gray reboot starring Mark Wahlberg. No other details were available at the time of reporting, as the studio is currently seeking writers.
Feig’s Recent Work
Paul Feig has built a career on comedy, and his most recent credit is The Housemaid, which he directed.
He has a track record of working within established franchises. That puts him in familiar territory when it comes to revisiting properties with built-in name recognition.
His style leans toward character-driven humor with sharp dialogue.
What The Studio Has Said
The only concrete fact is that Paramount is in early talks with Feig. The studio has not confirmed a script, a cast, or a release date.
Wahlberg has not been announced to return. Neither has anyone else from the original cast.
The phrase “follow-up” is doing a lot of work here. It could mean a direct sequel, a soft reboot, or a new story set in the same world. Hollywood uses the term loosely.
Deadline’s report notes that the studio is “currently seeking writers.” That means the project is in its earliest creative stage.
The Legacyquel Pattern
This move fits a broader trend in Hollywood. Studios have spent years mining older titles for sequels, prequels, and reboots that acknowledge their predecessors.
The term “legacyquel” has become common industry shorthand for this approach. It is a sequel that leans on nostalgia while trying to build something new.
That pattern often involves bringing back original stars while introducing new characters to carry the franchise forward. Whether that happens here is not known.
Early Stage
A director attachment is a strong signal, but it is not a guarantee the film gets made. The project is not officially greenlit.
Feig’s deal is not confirmed to be closed. The studio has not set a timeline.
The project is in its earliest creative stage.
What Comes Next
The studio needs to find writers before anything else moves forward. That is the only stated next step.
Plot details have not been shared. No cast has been attached beyond the director talks.
The 2003 film’s ending has not been described in any public reporting on this project. What happens after the heist is not a matter of record in this story.
A Familiar Story
The idea of revisiting The Italian Job is not new. The 2003 film was itself a remake of an earlier picture.
That earlier film’s year is not part of the current reporting. What is known is that the 2003 version starred Wahlberg and was directed by Gray.
The 2003 film’s reception is not part of the current reporting either. Whether it was a critical success or a cultural touchstone is not established.
The Bottom Line
This is a very early-stage story. A director is in talks. A studio is looking for writers. Nothing is locked in.
The idea of a follow-up to The Italian Job is not absurd. Whether it gets made depends on whether Paramount can find a script that works.
For the moment, the news is simply that Paul Feig is planning an Italian Job legacyquel, because why not.
Key Facts
- Director in talks: Paul Feig
- Original 2003 film director: F. Gary Gray
- 2003 film star: Mark Wahlberg
- Current status: Seeking writers, no script, no cast, no release date
The Steps Ahead
- The studio hires writers for the follow-up.
- Feig’s deal either closes or falls through.
- Paramount decides whether to bring back original cast members.
- The script gets a greenlight or the project stalls.
Source: avclub.com
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