Fresh hope for Jeremy Renner’s canceled Hansel & Gretel sequel?
Years after fans wrote off a Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters sequel, the director hints a changing landscape at Paramount could yet jolt the franchise back to life.
Let’s be honest—most people wrote off any hope of a Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters sequel ages ago. It’s been over a decade since Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton decked out in leather to blast witches with an impressive array of steampunk hardware. Still, the man behind the original film, Tommy Wirkola, is apparently not ready to let it rot in the studio archives just yet.
A Sequel Trapped in Development Purgatory
Wirkola’s been out promoting his next big thing, Violent Night 2, but even with that on his plate, he found time to reminisce about where things went sideways with Hansel & Gretel 2. For years, the sequel was shuffled around, sometimes discussed as a feature, other times as a TV spin-off, but by the time anyone blinked, both versions had quietly fizzled out. That wasn’t entirely surprising, considering how studio trends tend to shift with the wind.
Wirkola told ScreenRant during the Violent Night 2 press tour: 'You should never say never,' going on to mention that Paramount now has 'a new regime.' Because the original film 'made a lot of money for the studio,' he thinks there’s still a decent chance the franchise could make a comeback.
He’s clearly fond of the thing, too. Wirkola says he’s 'very proud of the film' and genuinely feels the team could top themselves creatively if they’re given another shot. Given how many sequels these days exist purely to milk nostalgia, you don’t always hear outright enthusiasm from original creators—so it’s worth noting.
What Actually Happened to Hansel & Gretel 2?
The first film dropped in 2013, and while it didn’t exactly wow critics, it was a tidy little earner for Paramount—more than $226 million worldwide off a reported $50 million budget. So, naturally, the studio moved quick on sequel ideas, originally hoping to get something out by 2016. But as with countless sequels, changing creative teams, shifting executive priorities, and probably a bit of franchise fatigue meant the project just... faded out.
The original film grossed over $226 million globally, turning a hefty profit for Paramount.
Now, if Paramount ever does decide to kick things back into gear, here’s the real snag: securing Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton for round two. Renner has become a lot more selective—even cautious—about physically demanding work, especially after that high-profile snowplough accident. Arterton, meanwhile, seems to be politely steering away from big studio franchises these days.
- Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters released in 2013
- Reached over $226 million in global box office
- Sequel plans originally aimed for a 2016 release, then fizzled
- Renner and Arterton are both unlikely, but not officially out
- Director Wirkola now enjoying fresh franchise success with Violent Night
Still, between Wirkola’s string of recent box office wins and Paramount’s never-ending hunt for legacy IP to cash in on, it wouldn’t be shocking if this particular fairytale gets dragged out of the crypt.”