Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters 2 release is sometime in 2016 according to a JoBlo report. Paramount Pictures International SVP Edward Ryan reportedly confirmed at CineEurope in Spain that a sequel to the surprise 2013 box office hit and cult favorite 'Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters' original is in the works.
Although generally panned by critics, and despite its modest $60-80 million budget, the R-rated first Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters film has already earned Paramount $226 million in worldwide total box office haul to date, not including proceeds from Blue Ray/DVD sales.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters 2 will continue to be handled by Will Ferrel and Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez Productions. While not actually revealing what the plot will be for the sequel, McKay, in a talk with Cinema Blend, said, "Well, I'm not going to tell you specifically. I know what the storyline is but I will say-I'll give one hint. Think of different kinds of witchcraft."
Tommy Wirkola, writer and director for the original Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters movie, will also be back for the sequel. Of what to expect from Wirkola, McKay told Movie Web, "It's this deranged Norwegian geek, and he has been given the wheel to this giant corporate money-making behemoth... this kid was given this wheel. I'm really excited about the second one. Because he didn't steer the behemoth off the road on the first one. You are going to get to see even more slack on his leash with the second one. He is really going to get to roam free on this. I've already started to hear some of the ideas he is working on, and its pretty insane. This could be one of those instances where the sequel does go further than the first one."
But what about the stars Jeremy Renner who plays Hansel and Gemma Arterton who plays Gretel, will they be returning for the sequel? McKay told Cinema Blend "....that there have been early discussions, and both of them loved working with Tommy. So, you know, Jeremy and Gemma are both very busy actors and we're just starting on the script right now....But I know they had the best time doing the movie and really loved the way it played worldwide. Everyone feels like as good as the first one is, we can really jack it up a level with the second one. So, fingers crossed, everyone will come back."
