Dev Patel’s new film Monkey Man has been receiving a positive reception since its premiere at the SXSW 2024. The film follows a young man’s quest for vengeance against corrupt leaders accountable for his mother’s demise and the oppression of the vulnerable.
It has also been doing quite well at the box office following its release last week, leading to discussions of a sequel. However, the 33-year-old actor is approaching the idea of a sequel to his directorial debut with caution.
Dev Patel is Cautious About the Monkey Man Sequel
Dev Patel has opened up about the challenges he encountered during the production of the action thriller film Monkey Man. The actor has shared that he broke his hand while filming the first major action sequence of the movie.
In addition to that, Patel also endured some broken toes, eye infections, and a torn shoulder along with multiple bruises while working on the movie. All this enduring has now resulted in praise from both critics and audiences, who have commended his performance in the film along with the story and the action sequences.
The film’s success has also led to the conversations for a potential sequel. However, the Lion actor seemed cautious about pursuing a sequel. Patel was asked about the possibility of a sequel in a recent conversation with Variety, and the actor shared,
“I’m trying not to get ahead of myself. I know this sounds like a cliché, but just to … birth this little thing, it’s been a huge undertaking. This is all a dream come true.”
Patel has shared that it took him years to develop the film and it seems sensible for him to take a cautious approach before rushing towards a sequel amid the film’s success. The actor, who also directed the movie, however, has neither confirmed nor declined the possibility of a sequel so far.
Dev Patel Opened up About His Years-Long Journey to Make Monkey Man
Dev Patel has shared that it took him 10 years to develop Monkey Man. Initially announced in 2018 as the directorial debut of the Oscar-nominated actor, the film encountered numerous obstacles before reaching theaters.
Monkey Man was scheduled to start filming in 2020, which was delayed due to the global pandemic. Once the filming eventually started, Patel’s injuries caused disruptions. According to Entertainment Weekly, he traveled to Indonesia to undergo surgery by a specialized surgeon to insert a screw in his hand in order to continue the production.
Once completed, Netflix acquired the rights for the film reportedly for around $30 million for a streaming release before the acclaimed filmmaker Jordan Peele intervened. “I saw the film and immediately just wanted to jump through the Zoom and give him a hug,” he said sharing his reaction to the movie.
Peele advocated for a theatrical release and decided to produce the film through his company, Monkeypaw Productions, and later persuaded Universal Pictures to acquire the film for its theatrical distribution. Monkey Man has grossed $12.7 million at the box office so far.
Monkey Man is playing in theatres.
