The Cloverfield Universe has grown and expanded since the original Cloverfield flick came out back in 2008. In the time since, producer J.J. Abrams and co. have expanded the universe with stories that touched on the original premise, but were also wholly their own distinct stories. However, at CinemaCon this week, Paramount and Abrams revealed that another Cloverfield movie is in development, and this time it is planned to be a "true, dedicated" sequel to the original film.
During a panel created for all things Paramount, J.J. Abrams was talking about the upcoming film Overlord. That flick is definitely not a Cloverfield sequel, as the horror film is set during WWII and will feature supernatural stuff and other strange happenings, although it was previously rumored to be the project that could be the Cloverfield sequel. During the taped introduction of that movie, J.J. Abrams admitted that a real sequel is in the works and that it will be heading to theaters sooner rather than later. The news comes a couple of months after reports indicated the still-untitled Cloverfield 4 had already been greenlighted, although that news was tied to Overlord and now holds at least somewhat untrue.
If you are familiar with the Cloverfield Universe, the original film introduced us to an invasion and a new sort of movie monster. The movie was well-received, and in 2016, 10 Cloverfield Lane was introduced. Intriguingly, the movie had not started out as another movie in the universe J.J. Abrams had created. By the time Bad Robot nabbed it and the final product was created, those two movies were on different timelines, although they still work within the confines of the same universe. This year, Netflix and Paramount also released The Cloverfield Paradox. While less well-received overall, that movie is also set in the same universe and answers some questions previously put forth by the universe. Again, The Cloverfield Paradox was a situation where the movie didn't start out in the Cloverfield Universe and the concept was added to the movie when it was already filming, as Abrams has previously confirmed.
However, neither 10 Cloverfield Lane nor The Cloverfield Paradox are direct sequels to Cloverfield. They don't pick up after the time the U.S. government nabbed the camera documenting Rob and Beth's day together in New York, and they feature very different characters and settings. So, the idea that a direct sequel to the 2008 film should be very exciting for anyone who has been keeping tabs on the universe in the decade since its inception.
We'll keep you updated as more details about Cloverfield 4 (or 2?) are confirmed. However, one other tenet of this universe happens to be the secretive way that it has been pushed out in the past, with The Cloverfield Paradox getting its first trailer during the Super Bowl this year, and spectacularly coming out just after the game. For now, keep your eye on the prize with our full movie schedule and stay tuned for more CinemaCon coverage from on the ground.
