Paul Feig Teases ‘Jackpot! 2’ Sequel with John Cena’s Potential Return

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For the first time in his career, Director Paul Feig is diving into sequel territory with “Another Simple Favor”. This is a follow-up to his 2018 hit featuring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. Critics have been generally praising it after its SXSW premiere over the weekend. Although he usually prefers original films, Feig has some sequel ideas brewing for a few of his movies, such as the 2024 action comedy “Jackpot!” starring John Cena.

During an interview with Screen Rant on March 7 at the premiere of Another Simple Favor, director Feig shared his affection for Prime Video’s Jackpot! and his 2015 action comedy Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy and Jason Statham. When asked if there were any plans for a sequel to either of those films, the director gleefully mentioned that at least someone was interested in a Jackpot! 2, hinting that he does have concepts for how the story could be expanded further.

“I really appreciate it, thanks a bunch! You’ve truly made my day with that Jackpot 2. I’m a big fan of Jackpot. Critics might not have enjoyed it, but I did. I’ve already got an idea for the storyline of Jackpot 2. While I don’t plan to turn all my movies into sequels (I enjoy creating fresh content), I think those two films could particularly benefit from another installment.”

Titled “Jackpot!“, this action-comedy features Cena as Noel, a past child actor who unexpectedly wins a staggering $3.6 billion lottery in a future California. With people attempting to take her life, she navigates through the chaos. Its outlandish plot shares similarities with The Hunger Games, yet it provides an opportunity for Cena to demonstrate his humor skills further, as Feig hints at the possibility of his return for a sequel: “Oh, absolutely!” he shared with Screen Rant. “John [Cena] and Nora [Awkwafina] and I had an amazing time working together.

‘Jackpot!’ Was Panned By Fans and Critics

Although there are concepts for Jackpot! 2, it seems unlikely that the sequel will be released anytime soon. The original movie was amusing, and it even reached the top spot on Prime Video, but it received harsh criticism from both fans and critics. It currently has a Tomatometer score of only 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, with its Popcornmeter slightly higher at 51%. Richard Fink from MovieWeb felt that the film didn’t meet its high expectations in his review, but Feig argued last year that the critics misunderstood its purpose entirely.

From what I gather based on the reviews, it seems they were searching for deep meaning in this plotline. However, let me clarify, I wrote this plotline as it is a Jackie Chan film, serving primarily as a platform for a hilarious individual to be constantly in peril and confused, with moments of sweetness and revelations about their past. Rest assured, I have no intention of delving into a political critique on modern America. I’m more focused on comedy.

At present, you have an opportunity to watch “Jackpot!” on Prime Video. Coming up next on May 1st is the release of “Another Simple Favor” on their streaming service. Later this year, Paul Feig will return with his psychological thriller, “The Housemaid”, featuring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. This film is scheduled to hit theaters on December 25th, 2025.

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2025-03-10 20:04