Unveiling the Untold Story: The Shocking Cancellation of Tomb Raider 2 and Its Surprising Impact on The Meg 2, Explained by the Director
Get ready for the highly anticipated sequel, Meg 2, hitting theaters on August 4! Director Ben Wheatley's insightful explanation on how Tomb Raider 2's cancellation contributed to the making of this blockbuster is a must-read Discover why Meg 2 is the perfect move for Wheatley in our exclusive article
Meg 2: The Trench would have had a different appearance if Tomb Raider 2 had not faced unfortunate circumstances. Ben Wheatley, the director of Meg 2, was previously involved with the development of Tomb Raider 2, the sequel to the 2018 film adaptation of the video game Tomb Raider, featuring Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the movie was not able to materialize. As a result, the franchise is now heading in a different direction, with plans for a television series and a connected universe overseen by Phoebe Waller-Bridge at Amazon Studios.
In a recent interview with Total Film, Wheatley discussed the reasons behind the demise of Tomb Raider 2. He attributed the film's failure to the impact of COVID-19, stating that "they got stuffed by COVID-19." With the opportunity to work on Meg 2 presenting itself, Wheatley eagerly accepted, stating that it was an opportunity that shouldn't be missed. Read his complete statement below.
Meg 2 Is Probably The Right Move For Ben Wheatley
: The impact of COVID-19 greatly affected our plans. We were on the verge of achieving our goal, but everything disintegrated unexpectedly [laughs]. However, when I came across [The Meg 2] on my desk, I immediately thought, "Oh." There wasn't a moment of hesitation, you know? It was as if Rebecca: why should you not pursue it?
Starting his career with low-budget and independent films like Kill List (2011) and A Field in England (2013), director Ben Wheatley gradually moved on to larger productions featuring well-known actors such as Tom Hiddleston in High-Rise (2015) and Brie Larson in Free Fire (2016). However, it was his opportunity to direct the 2020 Netflix adaptation of Rebecca, starring Armie Hammer and Lily James, that marked his foray into a bigger project. Unfortunately, the movie received negative reviews, with only a 39 percent rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an even lower 38 percent from audiences.
Rebecca's commercial success was mediocre, starting at No. 2 on the Netflix Top 10 but quickly dropping off the chart in the following week. Due to this, if Wheatley's upcoming blockbuster fails to succeed, it could potentially be his last chance to direct a film at that budget level. Given the choice between directing the sequel to Tomb Raider or the sequel to The Meg, making Meg 2: The Trench would likely be the better option to secure his future.
Both Tomb Raider 2018 and The Meg 2018 received relatively low scores on Rotten Tomatoes, with 53 percent and 46 percent respectively. However, The Meg earned an astounding $530 million globally, while Tomb Raider only made $274.6 million. As a result, there is a larger pre-existing global audience for Meg 2: The Trench, which could greatly boost Wheatley's career.
Source: Total Film
