It’s bad news for Sylvester Stallone fans who were hoping to see him pop up in Cliffhanger 2, as Variety reports that Sly is now out, and Pierce Brosnan and Lily James are in. Set to follow in the footsteps of the 1993 action-thriller, filming is underway in Austria on the production, which has undergone a complete overhaul since it was announced a little while ago, so much so that we’re wondering if it can even be called a sequel.
Originally featuring Stallone reprising his role of Gabe Walker only for him to be kidnapped and rescued by his mountain-climbing daughter, based on the official synopsis, the movie doesn’t look to have gone through too many plot changes now that Brosnan is taking over for Stallone. It was previously reported that Ric Roman Waugh (Greenland) would helm the sequel, but he’s out as well, with Jaume Collet-Serra (Carry-On, Non-Stop) taking on directorial duties. The screenplay by Mark Bianculli has also been tossed aside in favor of a new story by Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night). There’s no word on why Stallone exited the project, but you can check out all the details on Cliffhanger 2 below.
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“Seasoned mountaineer Ray Cooper (Bronson) operates a luxury chalet in the Dolomites with daughter Sydney. During a weekend trip with a billionaire’s son, they are targeted by a gang of kidnappers. Ray’s daughter Naomi (James), still haunted by a past climbing accident, witnesses the attack and escapes. To save her family, she must confront her fears and fight for survival.”
Who Else Will Star In Cliffhanger 2?
Now that production is finally underway on Cliffhanger 2, more cast members have been announced to appear in the sequel, including Nell Tiger Free, who is hot off the success of The First Omen this year. Also showing up are Franz Rogowski (Passages), Shubham Saraf (Shantaram), Assaad Bouab (Franklin), Suzy Bemba (Poor Things) and Bruno Gouery (Emily in Paris).
With the new version of Cliffhanger 2 said to be somewhat of “a father-daughter take on Die Hard,” the question that has to be asked now is: will fans even want to see it? Part of what made the original such an endearing action classic is the star power of Stallone, and not to knock Brosnan – who was amazing as James Bond – but when we hear the title Cliffhanger, we immediately think of Sly.
Perhaps it would be best if they didn’t attach the original’s title to it and just called it something else to temper expectations from fans who have been waiting more than 30 years for a follow-up. We’re sure it’ll still be a good movie, but to not have Stallone in something called Cliffhanger 2 almost seems sacrilege, and already gives it that straight-to-video feel despite the appearance of Brosnan, and the film pursuing a theatrical release. Here’s hoping it can deliver some of the same thrills that made the 1993 version so fun, because anything else is going to be a serious letdown.
