Martin Scorsese’s latest film has grossed over $125 million domestically, and has become an award nomination black hole. Even though [spoiler alert] most of the main characters are no longer living by the time the credits role, talk has already begun of a Departed sequel.
According to industry sources, Departed screenwriter William Monahan is working on follow-up story that would bring back Mark Wahlberg’s character. The screenplay would also introduce a new mob boss which is being scripted for none other than Robert De Niro. The studio is also considering making a prequel.
De Niro was originally offered the role taken by Martin Sheen in the original film, but was too tied up with his directing duties on The Good Shepherd to accept.
If this is true, Scorsese would need to approve any development on the project, with or without him.
When Warner Bros acquired the rights to adapt the Honk Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs in 2003, it also nabbed the rights to the film’s two sequels. In Hong Kong, Affairs did exceptionally well and was considered “a box office miracle”. It was heralded as a revival of Hong Kong cinema which at the time was considered to be direly lacking in creativity. It’s 2003 follow-up was a prequel, while still good, was not comparable to the first film. The third film was both a sequel and semi-prequel (similar to The Godfather Part II), as it inter-cuts events prior to and after the original’s events.
January 31st, 2007 at 9:44 pm
No, please god no. The Departed was good, not great, let down by the last thirty minutes, all of them hamfisted or lame. As crowd-pleasing as it was, is anyone clamoring to revisit the setting or secondary characters? Highly unlikely.
February 1st, 2007 at 8:53 am
I think they should stop while they are ahead but this is Hollywood so full steam ahead…
February 4th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Please lord no! They already destroyed Infernal Affairs with that terrible ending, now they’re thinking about crapping all over the series MORE?
And am I the only person mildly pissed that Scorsese’s getting considered for an Oscar or two for (half-assedly) remaking Infernal Affairs, while Infernal Affairs continues to get no love?
February 4th, 2007 at 10:30 am
How is Infernal Affairs getting no love? it is considered the movie that jump started honk kong cinema? Plus Scorsese’s movie just happens to be the best film of the year. It was a lackluster year. But you have to admit that you can’t find 3 movies that were remotely better?
February 4th, 2007 at 10:36 am
True about the HK cinema thing - to a degree, since it’s still floundering pretty badly - but I’m talking about public, big Western-media love. You’d think Scorsese invented the whole thing himself, the way most are and were going on about it. And I don’t think The Departed is undeserving of the Oscar in and of itself, I just… I dunno, I just think there’s something off about how the remake could get a Best Picture nod when the original couldn’t even pull a Best Foreign Picture nomination, despite being - IMO - superior.
April 6th, 2007 at 7:20 am
i think ur all just pussies. the departed was a great film. the acting was phenomenal and the character develpment was great! the reason that we love the movie so much is that it brought us to a part of the American underground that other movies hadn’t. internal affairs was a great movie, but did it instill the sense of, “this is what goes on in america! holy shit!”
and i thought the ending was amazing. no better way to garuntee that they couldnt make the same movie in a sequel again. tho they are making a sequel.
July 19th, 2007 at 1:12 am
I thought The Departed was well written and directed with an ending that was definately unpredictable. Unfortunately, there are very few movies made today with such an ending. However, a sequel is not a good idea. It is defiantely one of those movies that should be a single. I also feel that unless you can have a sequel that the majority of the first cast can appear, then it is doomed. So in conclusion, if it isn’t broken leave it the hell alone.
July 19th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
BEST GANGTSA MOVIE EVA MADE!!!, Scorsese freakin better make another one with Marky Mark and Alec Baldwin since they survived the first one, but also bring in an ALL STAR cast like Brad Pitt since he produced the movie anyway, Robert De Niro, Ed Harris, Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman, maybe even James Gandolfini(Sorpranos) Edward Norton, Collin Farrell, Kurt Russell….U decide. THAT MA STRAIGHT GANGSTA WISH LIST 4 DEPARTED 2…KA BOO YIA
July 26th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
it was one hell of a great film i think, i would hope to see a second but not shure if a third.
whom am i kidding it all kicks a**
July 30th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Make the movie, get it done, stop procrastinating Scorsese, make us PROUD!!!
July 30th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
i LOVED the movie “The Departed” and therefore I pray to GOD that Mark Wahlberg wasn’t kidding when he began spiling tha beans about the existence of a sequel being made. Cause if he was jerking with our hopes of there ever being one…. then he will pay the the Price!!, keep the FAITH fellow sequel lovers who want 2 c a sequel to THE DEPARTED…it must and will HAPPEN. Lets hope Martin Scorsese stumbles upon this very web site on his free time WHENEVER that happens to be and reads our comments,,,Thank you.
August 16th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Another Departed wouldn’t hurt nobody, I can see Brad Pitt in The Departed 2, I hope William Monohan hasn’t given up on the sequel…it would be sooo cooool if they make another one, also it would problably earn Mr. Scorsese another Oscar….IF he directs the movie himself like he did with the first one.
October 4th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
It’s not really a “sequel” it’s supose to be a “pre-quel” somewhat like the last star wars movie…it’s basically how the departed we know came to be, going back in time. I heard this from an interview with Mark Wal. he said the ideas were in the works, but if it would not be as good as the first or better it would not be worth re doing…But everyone will be in it that was in the 1st. I beleive I found the interview in Youtube, you have to search for interviews with Mark.
October 18th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
The departed was the best gangland cinmea movie this year and sum years prior. If ya thik its so bad then you obvisly dont now gangsters
October 20th, 2007 at 8:14 am
If D2 is not just as oscar worthy it would be idiotic and tarnish everyone involved’s reputation, it’s got to be just as good if not better, no longer than the first, and it’s got to avoid having so much plot jammed into one movie. If all of the original actors decide not to take it, that should be a clue, or if they decide to take it only because of Martin S. directing that should also be a big clue. Because of the 1st one the second if really in the works has to some big shoes to fill and will be held top high standards, either way everyone who liked the first or are big fans of all the actors in it, regardless we’ll still see it anyway!
November 10th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
If anybody looks on IMDB, The Departed 2 is on there and it is slated for a 2009 release, but of course anything can change with the times. I may be wrong, but I get the feeling that The Departed 2 will be filmed either before or after Marky Wahlberg films The Fighter. Either way, I have high expectation for The Departed 2. I also get the feeling that Brad Pitt will have a part in the movie. Since he produced the last movie anyway.
March 9th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I HOPE THERE IS A DEPARTED 2 BECAUSE THE FIRST 1 WAS GOOD BUT THERE R NO ANSWERS Y MARK’S CHARACTER KILLED THE GUY AT THE END. SO I HOPE THEY HAVE A PART 2 MARK WILL LOOK GOOD IN PART 2
May 8th, 2008 at 1:18 am
Ok lets get serious guys… The Departed is MY FAVORITE film of all time… i just got done watching it again for the like the 6th or 7th time. I love it. Espcially that irish theme. It would be great to see how costello got into the mob buisness and what jackie costigan did with him. Now for the sequel as much as i would like to see one i dont know what they would do with it. I do hope they make another one i really do.
P.s. to duke johnson… they explain why”marky” killed him. bill costigan was informing him on the situation the whole way through. “marky” knew everything.
i say go for it.
May 20th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
JUST MAKE ANOTHER SEQUEL FOR GODSAKES!!!