Warning: This article contains spoilers for Firestarter.
A brand-new adaptation of Stephen King's Pet Sematary. Still, even mid-tier King has millions of satisfied readers, and that's the case for Firestarter. The first Firestarter movie adaptation, released in 1984, holds a similar albeit more negative-leaning reputation among King devotees.
Interestingly though, King himself hates the 1984 Firestarter movie, finding it to be dull and bland. He does it, however, that Drew Barrymore is the clear standout element as the central character, a pyrokinetic girl named Charlie McGee, something just about everyone seems to agree on. With that in mind, when a Firestarter remake was announced for 2022, it went virtually uncontested that there was plenty of room to improve on the first adaptation of King's book.
As the race for streaming supremacy continues, Firestarter is being used by Universal as a means to draw horror and King fans over to its Peacock service, as the movie released day and date both in theaters and on Peacock streaming. For their part, the reviews for Firestarter have not been kind. The real measure of success will come in the form of audience response, though, and if that reaches a temperature high enough to please Universal, it's likely Firestarter will be rekindled with a sequel. Here's everything we know about a potential Firestarter 2 including the possible story, cast, and estimated release date.
Will Firestarter 2 Happen?
As always, the biggest factor into whether or not Firestarter will get a sequel is how much money it makes its studio. So far, the early box office forecasts for Firestarter aren't looking good, likely due at least in part to negative reviews from critics. However, since Firestarter released simultaneously on Peacock, its streaming viewership will also likely play a significant factor in whether or not a Firestarter 2 happens. Something else to consider is that Firestarter's budget wasn't high, clocking in at only $12 million.
Firestarter 2 Cast: Which Actors & Characters Will Return?
Firestarter 2022 is a bit of a bloodbath, as many major characters are killed off in gory fashion. That means the pool of who can return in a sequel is a bit limited, at least in present-day scenes. Possible future MCU star Zac Efron's Andy and Sydney Lemmon's Vicky McGee could certainly appear in Firestarter 2 through flashbacks or psychic visions had by daughter Charlie. As for living characters, it's hard to imagine a Firestarter 2 without the return of both Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Charlie and Michael Greyeyes as reformed villain Rainbird.
Firestarter 2 Story: What Firestarter's Ending Sets Up
With The Shop seemingly decimated - or at least one branch of it - and Andy McGee and Captain Hollister dead, Firestarter ends with the unlikely pairing of Charlie and Rainbird departing together into an unclear future. That's certainly a quite a change from how their interactions ended in King's book and the first movie, but does set up something new if a Firestarter 2 happens. The Firestarter remake's John Rainbird - now finally played by an indigenous actor - appears to feel remorse for killing Charlie's mom, and will likely protect the little girl at all costs. Kurtwood Smith's Dr. Joseph Wanless is also still among the living, and as the creator of the Lot 6 chemical concoction, may be someone they seek out.
Firestarter 2 Release Date Prediction
Since Firestarter took less than two months to shoot, and released less than a year after production wrapped, it's likely that if Universal greenlights Firestarter 2 in 2022 that a sequel could be out before the end of 2023. Likewise, if Firestarter 2 gets the go-ahead in 2023, a 2024 release is likely. If a sequel does happen, though, it needs to happen as soon as possible, to prevent Ryan Kiera Armstrong aging out of the role, presuming they want to pick up the story not long after Firestarter's ending.
