Crawl 2 Director Alexandre Aja Gives a Big Update on Sequel

As a dedicated horror enthusiast with a knack for spotting promising directors on the rise, I can confidently say that Alexandre Aja is one of the most intriguing talents in the genre today. His ability to consistently deliver edge-of-your-seat thrills while subverting expectations has made him a go-to name for horror fans like myself. The success of Crawl (2019) was no exception, demonstrating Aja’s uncanny knack for crafting nail-biting suspense in the most unexpected places – in this case, underwater amidst a swarm of giant alligators.


2019’s film “Crawl” proved to be an unanticipated blockbuster for horror director Alexandre Aja, who had previously built a reputation with cult-favorite horror movies like “High Tension,” “The Hills Have Eyes (2006),” “Piranha 3D,” and “Horns.” However, “Crawl” stands out as Aja’s most financially successful project to date, grossing $91 million against a budget of around $13-15 million. The film’s concept – a young woman battling massive alligators during a hurricane – lends itself well to a sequel. This upcoming sequel, titled “Crawl 2,” will shift the setting to New York City and follow a new group of characters. The delay in bringing “Crawl 2” to the big screen might be due to…?

It’s not like Alexandre Aja has been taking a break in the last few years – in fact, he’s currently out doing press for his latest horror film Never Let Go (2024), which stars Halle Berry. It was during the press junket for Never Let Go that ComicBook’s Chris Killian had the chance to ask Alexandre Aja about the status of Crawl 2, and we got a surprising answer on that front: From what Aja told us, it sounds like the time jump between making the first film and doing the sequel had nothing to do with Hollywood politics, a pandemic, or the strikes last year – and everything to do with Alexandre Aja needing time before he could face the water again:

Aja stated, “We’re figuring out the reason for the abundance of alligators in New York, which is quite intriguing… Indeed, I found the filming of Crawl particularly challenging due to the water scenes, the storm, and other factors. Amazingly, I’ve almost forgotten how grueling it was to be submerged in water for long periods, so I’m eager to don my wetsuit once more.

Reflecting on my past experiences, I can’t help but recall the chilly waters of Crawl, a memory that still sends a shiver down my spine. Director Alexandre Aja was quite open about his not-so-pleasant times in the water during the original film, and it seems like our lead actress, Kaya Scodelario, as Haley Keller, won’t be joining us for Crawl 2. Here’s hoping that the lessons we gleaned from the first Crawl will make the production of Crawl 2 a smoother, drier, and more enjoyable experience for Aja, as well as the rest of our cast and crew.

Regarding the tale of “Crawl 2”, Aja hasn’t disclosed many details yet, but she has shared with fans the reason behind the sequel presenting a fresh narrative.

Aja stated, “I find Haley’s tale incredibly powerful, but Crawl seems to focus on nature reclaiming what is rightfully its, with an emphasis on a hurricane-driven struggle between man and beast. As such, it might develop into a completely different story… At this moment, we are searching for a human narrative that matches the strength of the first one, to ensure the sequel’s authenticity.

Crawl 2 is currently in development.

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2024-09-16 19:10