Exclusive: Summit Hires Jon and Erich Hoeber to Write Sequel to RED

Summit Entertainment landed a hit last year with the action-comedy Red.  The Bruce Willis film was the highest-grossing picture for the studio outside of the Twilight franchise and has currently raked in $164 million worldwide.  Also, while you and I know that the Golden Globes are meaningless, the nomination for “Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical)” helped raise the movie’s profile.  With all that in mind, sources have told us that Summit has hired screenwriters Jon and Erich Hoeber to write a sequel.  It’s worth noting that commissioning a script is not the same thing as a giving a green light.  However, it is an important first step and if Summit is happy with the Hoebers’ screenplay, then I would expect the studio to hit the gas on what they’re probably hoping will be a new franchise.

Hit the jump for more on the Hoebers and my thoughts on a potential sequel.

Jon and Erich Hoeber clearly have a good relationship with Summit as they not only wrote Red, but also the upcoming Sam Worthington thriller Man on a Ledge for the studio.  They’re also credited with handling the script for Peter Berg’s upcoming summer blockbuster Battleship.  If you can find a way to have a character say “You sunk my battleship!” and not make it sound idiotic, you are a master of your craft.

As for a potential sequel to Red, there’s definitely room to expand the world.  But it’s crucial that the Hoebers not only deliver a quality script, but that Summit gets the original cast back.  Their chemistry and comic timing carried the film and I think audiences definitely want to see more of Helen Mirren wielding heavy artillery.