Vin Diesel is set to reprise his role in the upcoming sequel to The Last Witch Hunter, as Lionsgate fast-tracks development on the project. Although no official deal has been finalized, sources suggest that veteran actor Michael Caine could also return for the fantasy film’s follow-up. This continuation marks another attempt by Diesel to revive a unique genre franchise under the banner of his One Race Films production company.
Deadline has reported that while production is accelerating, it remains uncertain if other original cast members, such as Rose Leslie, known for her work on Game of Thrones and The Good Fight, will participate in the sequel. The absence of confirmed screenwriters and directors points to an early stage in the project’s development, leaving key creative decisions still to be made. It is unclear whether Breck Eisner, who directed the first film and has since focused on television projects like The Expanse, will return to the director’s chair.
Challenges Facing the Sequel Despite Original Film’s Underperformance
The choice to move forward with a sequel is surprising given the disappointing response to the 2015 original, which earned approximately $147 million worldwide on an estimated $90 million production budget. The film also faced harsh criticism from both audiences and reviewers. Despite this, streaming figures on platforms like Netflix appear to have influenced Lionsgate’s decision to greenlight a sequel, though the demand for a follow-up remains questionable.
Vin Diesel is concurrently engaged with other projects, including a fourth installment of the sci-fi action series featuring his character Richard B. Riddick. The film Riddick: Furya, penned and directed by series creator David Twohy, began filming in mid-2024 but has yet to announce its full cast or official release date under Universal Pictures.
Vin Diesel’s Broader Efforts to Revive Franchise Characters
Earlier this year, Diesel publicly advocated for the revival of another iconic role, pushing Universal Pictures and director Louis Leterrier to bring back Brian O’Conner, a character originally played by the late Paul Walker in the Fast & Furious franchise. Plans reportedly involved using advanced CGI and Walker’s brother, Cody Walker, as a stand-in to honor the character’s legacy in the franchise’s concluding film.
Meanwhile, uncertainties loom over the future of The Last Witch Hunter 2 amid rumors that Legendary Entertainment may acquire Lionsgate. This potential corporate change could affect the sequel’s production timeline or its overall prospects, as the project does not appear to be set for immediate release.
Industry and Fan Reactions Create Unease Over Franchise Revival
The decision to proceed with a sequel to a film that generated tepid box office returns and lackluster reviews has caused concern among industry observers and fans alike. The unpredictability surrounding the creative team’s direction and the involvement of key cast members adds to the anxious atmosphere. How Lionsgate and Vin Diesel will navigate these obstacles remains to be seen, particularly given Diesel’s simultaneous focus on multiple franchise projects.
“Vin Diesel is resurrecting yet another niche genre-film character with Lionsgate announcing they’re moving forward with a sequel to The Last Witch Hunter, and while a deal hasn’t been closed, there is an expectation that we’ll see veteran actor Michael Caine reprising his role in the fantasy flick, too.”
—Deadline
“Neither a screenwriter nor a director is being mentioned, so this is still early days, and unknown if they’ll attempt to bring back the previous creative team or Breck Eisner (The Expanse), who hasn’t helmed a feature film since The Last Witch Hunter.“
—Deadline
“The move to make a second Witch Hunter installment is a little perplexing, given the fact that the original release from 2015 didn’t do all that well at the box office, with a weak $147 million on a reported budget of $90 million (so, not exactly a deal based on the previous film’s earnings as they’re citing Netflix streaming numbers). Not to mention dismal reactions from both critics and audiences alike, so it’s a little hard to understand how there is an audience itching for this sequel.”
—Deadline
“Diesel is also putting together a fourth movie featuring his convict sci-fi character Richard B. Riddick with creator David Twohy writing/directing Riddick: Furya, which was said to have started filming in the summer of 2024 (yet, we never heard about a supporting cast) and is awaiting an official release date from Universal Pictures (also behind his Fast & Furious franchise).”
—Deadline
“Earlier in the year, Diesel said publicly he was pushing Universal and director Louis Leterrier to resurrect Fast & Furious legacy character Brian O’Conner (played by the late Paul Walker) for the final film, with the presumption they would use CGI and Walker’s brother, Cody Walker, as a stand-in to accomplish that.”
—Deadline
“There have been rumblings that Legendary might be looking to acquire Lionsgate, so who knows if that deal comes together, The Last Witch Hunter 2 will survive the shuffling of studio brass and executives, as it doesn’t sound like they’re ready to go anytime soon.”
—Deadline
