Before Pierce Brosnan even hangs from his first cliff, producers are already planning Cliffhanger sequel number two. Because apparently, remaking Sylvester Stallone’s 1993 mountain-climbing thriller wasn’t ambitious enough – now Rocket Science and Thank You Pictures want to build an entire franchise around dangling from rocks. At least they’re thinking vertically.
Vertical Ambition
The Cliffhanger sequel development began before the reboot finished post-production, which takes serious cajones (or serious delusion). Jaume Collet-Serra directs this Austrian Alps adventure, swapping Stallone’s Rocky Mountains for the Italian Dolomites. “We’re going to bring the audience a truly thrilling and visceral, premium theatrical experience,” Collet-Serra promised, clearly hoping audiences forgot about Black Adam.
Brosnan plays seasoned mountaineer Ray Cooper, operating a luxury chalet with his daughters. When kidnappers target a billionaire’s son during their weekend getaway, daughter Naomi (Lily James) must overcome past climbing trauma to save her family. It’s Taken meets 127 Hours, with better hair and British accents.
Physical Commitment
James earned director praise for her climbing dedication. “Lily in particular has gone above and beyond for the role, putting in real training and learning to climb. Her dedication has allowed us to capture some incredible shots we couldn’t have achieved otherwise,” Collet-Serra gushed. Because nothing says “method acting” like risking your neck on actual cliffs for a movie that might bomb.
The original Cliffhanger earned $255 million worldwide on a $65 million budget, holding the Guinness World Record for most expensive aerial stunt. Whether the Cliffhanger sequel can match those heights remains uncertain, but with IMAX distribution confirmed and international sales handled by Rocket Science, they’re betting audiences still want their action movies with actual stakes. Sometimes the old ways work best – especially when you’re literally hanging by a thread.
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