During a red carpet interview, screenwriter Zak Penn confirmed to The Direct that he remains at work on the sequel, offering the clearest sign in years that Warner Bros. has not abandoned its return to the OASIS.
‘Ready Player Two’ Is Still Moving Forward Behind the Scenes
For fans wondering whether the sequel had quietly faded into development limbo, Penn offered a straightforward update. Asked about the status of the project, the writer replied simply, “I am working on it.” While brief, the comment confirms that the follow-up to Steven Spielberg’s 2018 sci-fi adventure continues to advance behind the scenes.
Source: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for IMDb
Penn co-wrote “Ready Player One” alongside author Ernest Cline, adapting the bestselling novel into a film directed by Spielberg. The movie became a global box office success, earning more than $607 million worldwide and receiving praise for its ambitious visual effects and pop culture-driven worldbuilding.
The sequel draws from Cline’s 2020 novel “Ready Player Two,” which revisits Wade Watts after he inherits control of the OASIS and discovers a powerful new technology capable of reshaping both the virtual and real worlds. Cline revealed shortly after the book’s release that discussions with Warner Bros. had begun, later describing the adaptation as being in its “early stages” while Hollywood navigated the uncertainty of the pandemic.
Spielberg has also clarified his role in the next chapter. Rather than returning to the director’s chair, the Oscar-winning filmmaker has said he plans to produce the sequel, leaving the search for a new director open while keeping the franchise connected to its original creative team.
Although Warner Bros. has yet to announce a production schedule, release date, or returning cast, Penn’s latest update suggests the project remains active. For a sequel that has spent years generating speculation with little tangible progress, confirmation that the screenplay is still being developed may be the strongest indication yet that audiences have not seen the last of the OASIS.
