20th Century Studios Dishes on Possible Speed 3, Master and Commander Prequel: ‘We Have a Great Script’

Oceans could be battlefields again if 20th Century Studios has its way. In an interview with THR, studio president Steve Asbell hinted at a possibility of a prequel to the 2003 cult classic.

“I’m trying so hard,” Asbell says. “It’s the first movie I worked on at Fox twenty years ago. We have a great script. It just needs the right director.”

Asbell’s comments will be music to the ears of Master and Commander fans who have been waiting more than 20 years now for a new movie. A prequel makes sense in light of how much time has passed, but there’s plenty to mine from the original source material as well, which spans more than 20 novels.

We wrote in our review of the original movie, “Like its characters, [Master and Commander’s] strengths are numerous and undeniable, and its shortcomings are understated-but-significant. It’s a tantalizing glimpse into a world we’ve never seen protrayed quite like this, and a frustrating taste of what could have been.”

Elsewhere, Asbell digs into the possibility of other revivals, including putting the kibosh on any hopes for another Die Hard (“Not yet”) and Kingsman (“There’s no plans on doing them anytime soon”), at least for now. He also responds to star Sandra Bullock’s comment that Hollywood may not be brave enough for a Speed 3, laughing, “Hollywood is brave enough. We are brave enough. We are sitting by the phone.”

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He added, “It is one of those last movies that we haven’t remade. And to really be a reason to come back, it’s got to be a great idea and an idea that excites (Bullock and Keanu Reeves). Because that’d be the reason to see it. It’s obviously a really important title for us, but it’s not something we would handle lightly or just try to press them into service. They’d have to be a part of the development of that idea.”

The full interview also touches on there being not one but two Predator movies, and offers a status update on Avatar 3 and the nascent Alien: Romulus sequel. It seems like there’s plenty to look forward to, though a lot of it still years away. For the movies releasing in 2024, check out our list of the biggest movies coming out in 2024.

Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.