It was in early 2021 when we first heard that Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy was returning to the world of Real Steel for a new Disney+ series. The 2011 movie starred Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, and Anthony Mackie, and followed a father and son who reconcile after years apart as they train a junkyard robot to become a boxing champion.
The movie grossed just shy of $300 million when it was released and, seeing as its budget was only $110 million, there was really no reason why a sequel couldn't become a reality. However, its status as a beloved classic and increased interest following a Netflix debut seems enough to convince Disney this is a well worth returning to.
Collider caught up with Levy at CinemaCon last week and got the filmmaker to confirm the Real Steel TV series has a writing team.
"Gosh, do I need to lie? Yes is the answer," he started. "And the movie remains...I was with Anthony Mackie backstage today. I've been with Hugh [Jackman] a lot over the last few years. It remains close to our hearts. I'm never going to say never on that one."
It appears to still be very early days for the project, though Levy would go on to suggest there's a chance Real Steel could also be revisited on the big screen.
"Well, I think it could work as either and both because the truth is, yeah, it was a robot fight movie, but it was really about these characters," he explained. "It wouldn’t still be the movie that everyone talked to me about the most if those characters in the heart of that story didn't resonate."
"So, it’s TBD. I don’t know. I do want to comment that your tech seems to be moving backwards over the years, so I'm gonna get that in, but it's a wait-and-see."
Since helming Real Steel, Levy has gone on to work on the likes of Stranger Things and Free Guy. Fans have never stopped expressing their desire for a follow-up, and the filmmaker previously revealed that it was that newfound interest on Netflix which prompted him to talk with Jackman about a sequel of some sort. That may have evolved into this TV series.
Either way, fans are excited and while this one may be a ways off from getting an official green light, we're optimistic the TV show could be the start of exciting things to come for Real Steel.
There's a tonne of potential with the property, and regardless of whether it's a continuation or a new story set in that world, Disney now has the opportunity to launch an exciting new slate of movies and TV shows set in the world of this Rock 'Em Sock 'Em-inspired franchise.