Mark Wahlberg’s Sequel Update On Underrated $95M Movie Is Great News After 17 Years Of Blanks

A full 17 years after Shooter‘s theatrical release, Mark Wahlberg has expressed interest in a sequel, which is great news for those who loved the original movie. Wahlberg played retired Marine Scout Sniper Bob Lee Swagger in the 2007 action thriller movie directed by Antoine Fuqua, which saw Swagger framed for an assassination and fighting against the corrupt individuals who foolishly intended to use him as a scapegoat for their sinister schemes. The impressive cast also included Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Danny Glover, and Ned Beatty.

Despite being released nearly two decades ago, Shooter recently became a streaming hit on Paramount+, where it became one of the most-watched movies in Paramount’s library. Wahlberg responded to Shooter‘s streaming success by expressing enthusiasm when asked about a sequel and discussing how recent changes at Paramount could make a continuation of Swagger’s story happen. He also shared that he would love to reunite with Fuqua and his co-star Michael Peña, all of which could make a Shooter sequel possible.

Related

This $131M Movie Saw Denzel Washington Team Up With Mark Wahlberg & I Think It Deserved Better

A rare 2013 action buddy comedy saw an exclusive team-up of Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington, which should have made it more of a box-office hit.

A Sequel Is Perfect For Mark Wahlberg And For The Character Of Bob Lee Swagger

Even though Wahlberg does not confirm a Shooter sequel being in development, his comments are still promising, as Swagger is an ideal role for him, and it is a story that can easily continue. Wahlberg is generally best suited to action-heavy roles, with Shooter being a perfect example of this. The star power that Wahlberg brings to his movies and the appeal that he brings to Swagger is partly why Shooter is still being re-watched and discovered for the first time via streaming 17 years later.

As for the story, Shooter was based on the 1993 novel Point of Impact by Stephen Hunter, which is only one of 12 novels Hunter wrote about Swagger. There is plenty of source material to draw from, and Shooter 2 can pick up soon or long after the previous film’s ending, in which Swagger got his revenge and killed those at the heart of the political conspiracy that framed him. There would inevitably be fallout from killing prominent politicians and high-ranking military officers that Swagger could have to contend with in Shooter 2.

Why Didn’t Shooter 2 Happen After The First Movie?

Shooter Wasn’t A Major Hit At The Time

Despite its recent streaming success, Shooter was not a commercial or critical hit when released in 2007. It only grossed $95 million against a $61 million budget and received mixed reviews, including a 48% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. A Shooter television series starring Ryan Phillippe as Swagger did air for three seasons on the USA Network from 2016-2018, but it never gained widespread traction and never became as well-known as the film that preceded it.

The 2007 film’s 80% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and the recent streaming numbers prove that despite not being a critical or commercial hit, Shooter was mostly well-received by general audiences who watched it. Shooter is not a complex masterpiece, but it is an entertaining revenge fantasy story brimming with over-the-top action. With Wahlberg’s star power continuing to be strong, and other elements aligning, Swagger’s quest for revenge may continue in a Shooter sequel.

shooter

Shooter is an Antoine Fuqua-directed film starring Mark Wahlberg, Kate Mara, and Danny Glover. In this 2007 action thriller, former Marine Scout Sniper Bob Lee Swagger (Wahlberg) must prove his innocence after he is framed for murder. The film was later adapted into a TV series on USA that lasted for three seasons.

Director

Antoine Fuqua

Writers

Antoine Fuqua

Runtime

126minutes