Summary
- Director Jeymes Samuel confirms that a sequel to the hit Netflix Western, The Harder They Fall, is in early development.
- The first film, featuring a predominantly Black cast, received critical acclaim and a rating of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Due to actor Jonathan Majors’ ongoing legal issues, a recast or creative storytelling may be necessary for the sequel’s lead character, Nat Love.
The filmmaker behind the Netflix Western hit, The Harder They Fall, has revealed that a sequel is now in early development. Responding on social media to a fan who wishes that a second movie was in the works, director Jeymes Samuel, aka The Bullitts revealed that wishes do come true, simply stating “… There is.”
Released back in 2021, The Harder They Fall follows outlaw Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) who, after discovering that his enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) is being released from prison, rounds up his gang to track Rufus down and seek revenge.
Those riding with him in this assured, righteously new school Western include his former love Stagecoach Mary (Zazie Beetz), his right and left hand men–hot-tempered Bill Pickett (Edi Gathegi) and fast drawing Jim Beckwourth (R.J. Cyler)–and a surprising adversary-turned-ally. Rufus Buck has his own fearsome crew, including “Treacherous” Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (LaKeith Stanfield), and they are not a group that knows how to lose.
One of few Westerns whose principal cast members are all Black, The Harder They Fall was met with critical acclaim and currently holds a ‘fresh’ rating of 88% on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. Boasting a stellar cast and brimming with powerful performances alongside a great soundtrack and visuals, no doubt many would love to see more adventures with the Nat Love gang.
This is not the first time that Samuel has addressed the idea of a follow-up, saying in 2021 (via Esquire), “Wide, open. Wide, wide, wide open. I’m going back to do multiple films in what I call the CCU: the Cowboy Cinematic Universe. For me, the only thing better than Trudy Smith is more Trudy Smith, you know what I mean? I’m always going to dive back into the Old West.”
The Ongoing Problem With Jonathan Majors
Should audiences and The Bullitts get their wish and see The Harder They Fall 2 come to fruition, the question regarding what to do with Jonathan Majors may need to be dealt with. The actor is currently dealing with multiple assault and harassment allegations that have been leveled against him. Majors has since been dropped as a client by both his management company Entertainment 360 and the public relations firm the Lede Company. The Creed III and MCU star has been charged with misdemeanors, including assault, with a tentative trial date being set for September 6, 2023.
Majors portrayed the lead character Nat Love in the first The Harder They Fall, meaning that the sequel could require a recast or some clever storytelling depending on how Samuel wants to proceed, and what occurs in court. The first The Harder They Fall does end with Love faking his death, and with an incredible cast of supporting characters played by hugely talented actors, The Harder They Fall 2 might not need Majors or Nat Love anyway.
The Harder They Fall is now available to stream on Netflix.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
