This Underrated $405 Million Sci-Fi Movie Cast A Big-Name Actor For A Sequel That Hasn’t Happened Yet

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Many excellent science fiction films from the 21st century haven’t gotten the sequels they deserved. For instance, Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 had a conclusion that clearly set up a District 10, and Cloverfield could have launched a major monster movie series instead of just having its name attached to unrelated films. Sometimes sequels do happen, but often after a very long wait, like the 28 years between Tron and Tron: Legacy.

Most sequels happen because the story suggests more could be told. Either the first film leaves clues about what happens next—like in District 9, where a character vowed to return and a new location was introduced—or the world created in the movie is so expansive that audiences naturally expect more stories to be set there. Occasionally, though, a 2019 science fiction film cast a well-known actor in a brief appearance, hoping to set up a sequel that never actually happened.

Alita: Battle Angel Cast Edward Norton As The Villain For A Sequel That Hasn’t Happened

In the 2019 film Alita: Battle Angel, directed by Robert Rodriguez and co-written and produced by James Cameron, the primary antagonists were Vector, played by Mahershala Ali, and his powerful enforcer, Grewishka, played by Jackie Earle Haley. The movie also hinted at a greater, unseen enemy named Nova. Nova has the ability to control others, so both Ali and Haley portrayed the character at different times, delivering Nova’s lines while appearing possessed.

Though the character Nova mostly appeared through illusions, there were two quick glimpses of the actual villain. He was seen once in a flashback and again at the very end of the film, with his face hidden behind strange glasses. In the final moments, when he took the glasses off, the audience realized the role was secretly played by Edward Norton.

Watching Alita: Battle Angel again makes it obvious that the character Nova, played by Edward Norton, was set up to be a bigger part of any future movies. The scene where Alita raises her sword towards Nova, who’s watching from above, really points to that. Director Robert Rodriguez later confirmed this in a 2019 interview with Digital Spy, saying that was exactly what he planned.

Norton wasn’t the only recognizable actor with potential for more screen time in a possible Alita: Battle Angel 2. Michelle Rodriguez briefly appeared in flashbacks as Alita’s old combat instructor, and Jai Courtney had a small role as a motorball player aiming to reach the city of Zalem. Because the sequel would have explored Alita’s past and the secrets of Zalem further, both actors were probably intended to have larger roles.

Previous Updates On Alita: Battle Angel 2’s Status

Image Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages

After Alita: Battle Angel came out, it was unclear if a sequel would actually happen. While key people like directors Rodriguez and Cameron wanted to continue the story, the studio remained quiet. The merger between Disney and Fox, and the subsequent shutdown of Hollywood due to the pandemic, both contributed to the uncertainty.

Hope for a sequel to Alita: Battle Angel first appeared in late 2022 when Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron publicly committed to making another film. By June 2023, Cameron mentioned working on a new Alita movie in addition to his Avatar projects, but progress seemed to stall. As of 2025, Rodriguez indicated they still intended to make a sequel, but a formal announcement hadn’t been made.

Rosa Salazar, who played Alita in the film, recently shared a hopeful update with Collider, saying there’s still a possibility of a sequel: “It still might [happen]…”

Will Alita: Battle Angel 2 Actually Happen?

The team behind Alita: Battle Angel is still hoping to make a sequel, and James Cameron may be working on story ideas. However, it’s still uncertain if a second movie will actually happen, or how long it might take if it does.

James Cameron is currently focused on his Avatar films, and Disney doesn’t seem eager to make a sequel to Alita: Battle Angel anytime soon. However, the continued strong interest from fans and the people who worked on the first movie means there’s still a possibility a second film could happen, despite the challenges in Hollywood.

Even though critics gave Alita: Battle Angel a lukewarm score of 61% on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences loved it, giving it a 91% rating. This shows the film is gaining a stronger reputation over time, and with a worldwide box office of $405 million, it wasn’t a financial failure, meaning Disney wouldn’t be taking a huge risk by considering a sequel.

Alita has one thing going for her: time. Because the first movie relied heavily on visual effects, and some actors were difficult to see, the age of the cast isn’t a concern. This means Alita: Battle Angel could potentially return as a successful franchise years from now, even after James Cameron has finished with Avatar.

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2025-11-08 17:22