Contagion 2: Steven Soderbergh Gives Update on Potential Sequel

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Steven Soderbergh has given an update on Contagion 2.

The 2011 film titled “Contagion,” directed by Soderbergh, features actors like Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, and Gwyneth Paltrow among others. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it generated approximately $136.5 million worldwide with a budget of around $60 million.

In 2020, Soderbergh shared with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he and screenwriter Scott Burns were working on a “thought-provoking” continuation of Contagion.

He mentioned that he was collaborating with Scott Burns on a project, which could be considered a philosophical follow-up to Contagion but in a new setting. He likened the pairing of these projects to two individuals with different hair colors. At the time, he shared this information via IndieWire and added that they had been discussing what the next story in the vein of Contagion might be, and they’ve been working on it; it’s a project they should move forward with more urgency.

What did Steven Soderbergh say about Contagion 2?

When asked by Variety if the Contagion 2 project is still under consideration, Soderbergh replied, “We’ve discussed it. It would need to revolve around a fresh concept yet remain plausible. A key factor that made the original film relatable for audiences when it debuted and later during the actual pandemic was its grounding in reality. We must come up with a new twist, but one that feels realistic enough for viewers to think, ‘That could happen.’

If asked whether his next project would involve another pandemic or health crisis, Soderbergh replied, “Perhaps. Something that’s already happening and just needs a small push to become catastrophic could be the focus. For me, Contagion was a horror movie. So the challenge would be finding something equally terrifying but based on reality. There are strong arguments, particularly in the Western world, for the long-term consequences, environmentally, of our diet and air pollution. It’s been established that we have plastic particles in our bodies now, even in our brains. This is a new development that could have significant, long-lasting effects. There are many potential topics to explore.

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2025-03-13 23:10