According to a report from Deadline, the upcoming Cloverfield sequel has secured a director. Sources close to the outlet have reported that Babak Anvari has been attached to the project. The sequel will be the fourth instalment in the ever-expanding Cloverfield franchise since the original hit cinemas in 2008 – but unlike the previous two instalments, the untitled film will serve as a direct sequel to the first film.
With plot details and casting information remaining a mystery, it’s also uncertain whether the sequel will pick up from where the first left off or tie in from another time and place set within the same world.
Anvari has established a name for himself within the industry for efforts with 2016’s Under the Shadow, which secured him a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut Filmmaker. In 2019, Babak released his second film, Wounds, featuring Armie Hammer and Zazie Beets. The film debuted at Sundance 2019 and at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, before launching on Hulu later in 2019.
Most recently, Anvari helmed the Netflix thriller I Came By, starring George Mackay, Kelly Macdonald, and Hugh Bonneville. Launching in August, the thriller amassed more than 30 million viewing hours within one week on the streamer.
Written by Drew Goddard and directed by Matt Reeves, Cloverfield was received positively upon release for its unique found-footage style, direction, and marketing campaign. Two sequels have followed the original, 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) and the poorly received The Cloverfield Paradox (2018).
Joe Barton will be writing the script for the upcoming sequel alongside J.J. Abrams, who serves as a producer under the Bad Robot banner with Hannah Minghella and Jon Cohen. Bryan Burk, Matt Reeves, and Drew Goddard will serve as executive producers.
Cloverfield follows five friends documenting an alien monster rampaging through New York City, starring Michael Stahl-David, Odette Annable, Mike Vogel, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, and T.J Miller.
