Only a handful of people can recall the gem A Knight’s Tale, starring Heath Ledger. Director Brian Helgeland recently disclosed that despite consideration for a sequel to the highly acclaimed film, Netflix’s algorithm predicted that the movie wouldn’t be worth the effort. Now, fans are discussing another disappointing sequel that was recently released, Zack Snyder’s brainchild, Rebel Moon: Part 2, which many believe should never have seen the light of day.
Why Netflix Passed on a Sequel to A Knight’s Tale?
Brian Helgeland, who had the privilege of directing the beloved medieval action comedy A Knight’s Tale, starring Heath Ledger which enjoyed considerable success upon its release, entertained the idea of a sequel.
Discussing the potential sequel in an interview with Inverse, Helgeland expressed his thoughts on expanding the story further. He said,
“When we finished A Knight’s Tale, we were already thinking about making the sequel as a pirate film. The plot revolved around Count Adhemar kidnapping Jocelyn and taking her to Constantinople. They end up as galley slaves after their boat is captured by pirates. There’s a prisoner on the boat who has a treasure map tattooed on his back, but he keeps getting flogged for indiscipline. The guys volunteer to take turns getting flogged in this prisoner’s place, so the map isn’t erased. Sony didn’t want to do it.”
The director has numerous ideas for where the story could go, with the previously mentioned concept being just one of them. However, it’s the next idea that appears to have caught Sony’s attention, suggesting that they are intrigued by the potential direction the sequel could take. He continued,
“There was another idea pitched to me that was all about William’s daughter. Paul Bettany called me after he had dinner with Alan Tudyk, and the guys had an idea that William had passed away during a war. However, William has a teenage daughter who wants to joust, but she’s not allowed to because she’s a woman. She tracks down the gang and they agree to teach her how to joust, but she has to hide who she is. They cut her hair short and she speaks with a deep voice, et cetera.”
However, Netflix’s algorithm soundly predicted that the sequel wouldn’t garner much success, as Helgeland stated,
“I pitched it to Sony because they own the rights, and it seemed like they were interested in making it with Netflix, releasing it as a Netflix movie. My understanding is that Netflix tested this sequel idea through their algorithms, which indicated that it would not be successful. A Knight’s Tale seems to get more popular with every passing year; it’s the strangest thing.”
While the director may find the algorithm’s verdict peculiar, fans are content knowing that the light-hearted tale will continue to endure as it is. This sentiment reflects the enduring appreciation and fondness audiences hold for the original film, regardless of the potential for a sequel.
Fans Glad Netflix Skipped A Knight’s Tale Sequel, But Are Still Disappointed by Rebel Moon 2!
Fans are now urging to end the trend of producing unnecessary sequels, which seems to have diminished the value and enjoyment of certain franchises in recent years. However, there is one particular franchise, Rebel Moon, that fans are displeased the algorithm didn’t work for.
The first part was released at the end of last year, followed by the second part more recently, but reviews have been less than favorable, to put it politely. Zack Snyder’s brainchild has garnered some particularly damning reviews from both critics and audiences alike.
Here is what the fans had to say about the situation altogether,
Where was this algorithm for rebel moon…!
— Kodbane (@Kodbane) April 22, 2024
But they dumped money into funding Snyders trash?
— Kyle Simcox (@AGhostlySpydr) April 22, 2024
Where was Netflix’s algorithm when they were working on Cowboy Bebop, Resident Evil, etc?
— Thor Odinson (@Thor_Odinson) April 22, 2024
Netflix: “The algorithm felt like it wasn’t hitting the right taste clusters” pic.twitter.com/Beq6LrM6XP
— Lee (@FilmItLee) April 22, 2024
Good that Netflix don’t touch that, the OG film is a Classic by the amazing performance of the great Heath Ledger. 🙏🏻❤️
— Peter Rabbit’s Award Buzz (@PeterRabbit_4DX) April 22, 2024
After a string of disappointments, fans are relieved that Netflix has decided to abandon further iterations of certain franchises. However, there is disappointment among fans that Rebel Moon, along with Resident Evil and many others, failed to capture the attention of the streaming giant’s algorithm’s radar.
A Knight’s Tale is available on Apple TV for rent.
