Will There Be a 'Leave the World Behind 2'?
Scene from "Leave the World Behind"
Leave the World Behind only just arrived on Netflix and it's already one of the streamer's biggest hits of 2023. Can viewers expect a sequel?
The dramatic thriller, which began streaming on Dec. 8, is based on the critically-acclaimed novel of the same name by author Rumaan Alam. With A-list stars like Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke and Mahershala Ali leading the cast, viewers were captivated by the story of two families brought together under dire circumstances while on what was supposed to be an idyllic vacation. The movie, directed by Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot), is such a hit (and with such an ambiguous ending) that it's left fans wanting more. But is a sequel to the streaming sensation on its way? Here's what we know so far (and beware of spoilers ahead).
Related: Julia Roberts Shares Rare Selfie to Tease 'Leave the World Behind'
Will there be a Leave the World Behind 2?
The hit Netflix film Leave the World Behind has viewers buzzing about the possibility of a sequel after its “mystifying” ending. However, there is currently no word on the possibility of a Leave the World Behind sequel.
What was the first Leave the World Behind about?
The movie introduces viewers to the Sandford family—Amanda (Roberts) and Clay (Hawke), and their teenage children Rose and Archie (Farrah Mackenzie and Charlie Evans)—who have escaped Brooklyn, New York for a summer getaway at a luxurious modern beach house in the Hamptons. Unbeknownst to them, the world as they know it is about to end, and the owner of their impressive rental, G.H. Scott (Ali) is going to show up to the house in the middle of the night with his daughter, Ruth (Myha’la Herrold), seeking refuge from a mysterious blackout affecting New York City.
At first, the families awkwardly attempt to share the space (with Amanda being particularly awful). But soon it becomes clear that ominous events are occurring in the area that cannot be rationally explained, including cell towers going down, planes falling from the sky and bizarre natural phenomena and animal behavior. As tensions rise and resources dwindle, Amanda and G.H. struggle to keep their families safe and formulate a survival plan.
How did Leave the World Behind end?
In the intense final act, G.H. shares his theory with Clay that the disturbing incidents signal something larger at play—perhaps a coordinated attack to destabilize the country by creating chaos and pitting citizens against one another. (He'd previously revealed to Amanda that one of his top clients hinted at an extreme event unfolding.)
Tipped off by a gun-pointing survivalist/conspiracy theorist named Danny (Kevin Bacon), it appears the families are poised to take shelter in a well-equipped bunker at a nearby home. But before both families can come back together and get there, the film takes a surprising final turn: Amanda and Clay’s daughter, Rose, who went missing earlier that morning, is shown alone in the bunker, elated to find a DVD of the Friends finale, which she'd been desperately trying to watch since the Internet went out. As the movie cuts to the credits and the Friends theme song plays, Rose’s fate along with that of both families is left ambiguous.
Some fans complained about the cryptic ending, but book author Alam told Variety why it was important to not see the families reunited at the end. “Wouldn’t that be so dissatisfying? It’s a film that respects you as a viewer enough to not provide that,” he said.
He continued: “It’s not that kind of story. I have no problem with like a big disaster movie that saves the six or eight principals and reunites them in the aftermath of a disaster and allows you to be like, 'Well, everything’s gonna be okay.' I just don’t think this is that kind of film.'"
Who will star in Leave the World Behind 2?
While a sequel hasn’t been formally announced, Roberts, Hawke and Ali could in theory reprise their roles if one goes into production, along with the actors who played their kids (assuming the meds that Danny gave Archie actually worked for the kid!).
Related: Julia Roberts' Net Worth Shows That This Pretty Woman Is More Than Pretty Rich
Is there a release date for Leave the World Behind 2?
Unfortunately, no release date has been set as the sequel hasn't been confirmed yet. The movie's open-ended finale definitely allows for a follow-up story, though.
Is there a trailer for Leave the World Behind 2?
With no sequel formally greenlit, there is no trailer available for a second Leave the World Behind movie at this time. Fans eagerly awaiting news can hope that more concrete updates come soon! In the meantime, here’s the trailer for the first film:
