What Happened to ‘Upgrade’s Planned TV Sequel?

The big picture

• Update
  Director Leigh Whannell showcases his talent as a writer and filmmaker in the genre thriller.
• The 2018 sci-fi film features Logan Marshall-Green as a man seeking revenge for his wife's death.
• The success of
  Update
  it sparked plans for a sequel, potentially setting the stage for a television series.

Although it may not be a household name like James Wan or Jordan Peele, Leigh Whannell is undoubtedly one of the most influential genre storytellers working today. Whannell served as a writer on both saw i insidious franchises, which became some of the highest-grossing horror sagas in history. Whannell got the chance to get behind the camera when Insidious: Chapter 3 became his directorial debut, but his true talent was revealed with his sci-fi action thriller, Update. An original genre thriller with surprisingly relevant themes about artificial intelligence, Update was a surprise box office hit that immediately led to speculation about a sequel or continuation.

Update proved that Whannell was just as talented as a filmmaker as he was a writer, allowing him to work on some of the most well-known horror properties of all time. Whannell's remake The invisible man starring Elisabeth Moss it also garnered praise and became a relative box office hit in the months before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down movie theaters. The next one is set to direct the long-awaited reboot of The werewolf starring Christopher Abbott. Despite Whannell's continued success with other projects, Jason Blum's comments indicate that an Update continuity remains a priority for the company.

Does “Update” set up a sequel?

Set in the not-so-distant future of 2046, Update focuses on car mechanic Gray Trace (Logan Marshall-Green), who has a deep resentment for technology. While Gray's wife Asha (Melanie Vallejo) suggests that their lives would be easier if they accepted cybernetic enhancements, Gray can't help but feel more comfortable working for himself. Update develops a unique world parallel to the actual development of artificial intelligence. After a self-driving car crash, Gray and Asha are attacked by a group of vicious gang members. Asha is killed, but Gray is left with a severe spinal injury that leaves him immobile. Gray is then given the option to fuse his body with an artificial intelligence program known as “STEM” (Simon Maiden) to recover motor functions. However, STEM proves to be much more, helping Gray track down the men responsible for Asha's murder.

Whannell is known for his talent in world building, however Update it was successful because it was a throwback to classic revenge movies. While armed with STEM, Gray is able to develop advanced fighting skills that make him a nightmare for the city's criminal underworld. Grey's intentions are initially personal, but STEM suggests to him that there is a larger conspiracy at play linked to his wealthy client, Eron Keen (Harrison Gilbertson), whose technological innovations have made him powerful. Gray realizes that STEM's motivations are different from his own, as the artificial intelligence wants to completely take over his consciousness.

Although it initially looked like a straightforward sci-fi action thriller, Update's ambiguous ending sparked the potential for a sequel. Gray tries to fight his mind control away from STEM, but is subdued and put into a dream state where he believes Asha is still alive. It's unclear if Grey's mind will ever be freed, but it's clear that STEM has more sinister motivations. With Grey's body under his control, STEM could infiltrate human society and eliminate other high-profile targets that threaten the rise of artificial intelligence.

Why did Blumhouse discontinue the “Update” series?

Soon after the film became a surprise box office and critical success, Blum confirmed that a sequel was in the works. While no immediate plans were set in motion, Whannell revealed The invisible man was set within the same fictional universe that Update. The horror reboot has been introduced Oliver Jackson-Cohen like Adrian Griffin, who was revealed to be the founder of Cobalt, one of the main companies behind the STEM program. While the future of Blumhouse's shared universe has yet to be revealed, Whannell's involvement in The werewolf suggests that there might be more connective tissue than ligaments Update.

While early speculation suggested another theatrical film was in the works, Blum revealed that Update The sequel would be remade as a television series. Blum expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating that “Update it should have been a wide release,” as it had the potential to have more cross-over appeal with general audiences. While a writer's room was set up to begin developing ideas, Blum admitted that the first round of scripts “didn't get the answers I wanted to get.” Blum stated that the scripts were being reworked so that the series could be picked up from the beginning and not spend many years in development hell.

What will the “Update” series be about?

Whannell and producer Tim Walsh they signed in to co-create the Update series for Blumhouse Television and Universal Cable Productions. Details about the series are scarce, however the Update TV series will take place several years after the conclusion of the first film and include a new host for STEM. This suggests that while a cameo can't be ruled out, Marshall-Green's involvement isn't necessary for the show's future, as it could introduce a new cast of characters. The story would focus on how STEM has become a resource used by the government to hunt down criminals as advances in technology have made it even more ruthless.

Given the radical changes in real-world AI applications, Update's TV spin-off has a chance to be more timely than ever. Blumhouse has certainly produced shows like The Good Lord Bird i In the dark that deal with real-world problems, so it's likely that Update will seek to engage in a broader conversation about the risk of using AI technology.

Update is currently available to stream on Netflix in the United States

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