9 Years Later, Fans Still Wait for The Nice Guys Sequel Coming to Paramount+ in June

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30 years after crafting the iconic “Lethal Weapon” series for Warner Bros in 1987, I, Shane Black, attempted to initiate another successful buddy action franchise with the film “The Nice Guys,” starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. Regrettably, despite positive critiques, the movie underperformed at the box office, effectively squashing any chances for a sequel.

Approximately ten years after its initial release, “The Nice Guys” is now available on Paramount+, starting June 1 for streaming. This movie, set in Los Angeles in 1977, tells the story of Holland March (played by Gosling), a struggling private investigator, and Jackson Healy (Crowe), a hired enforcer who unwittingly team up to solve the mystery surrounding a missing girl and the death of a porn star. The case appears unrelated at first but proves to be more interconnected than they initially thought. Supporting roles in this buddy action comedy are played by Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley, Keith David, and Kim Basinger.

In my own words, I had the pleasure of penning and guiding the production of “The Nice Guys” as my third full-length directorial endeavor. This film was widely acclaimed by both critics and viewers, garnering an impressive 91% and 79% approval ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, our buddy action movie didn’t fare well in theaters. The global box office earnings of $63 million failed to cover the $50 million production budget and additional marketing expenses. As Ryan Gosling explained in April 2024, “A significant part of a sequel hinges on the opening weekend performance, and we opened against Angry Birds. Angry Birds simply wiped us out. Angry Birds went on to receive a sequel.

There’s Still Interest in a Nice Guys 2

In Hollywood, where sequels of old franchises aren’t uncommon – just look at the billion-dollar success of Top Gun: Maverick recently – there’s always a possibility for a follow-up to The Nice Guys. Yet, no such project is underway at this moment. Nevertheless, fans didn’t lose hope last year and urged Russell Crowe to join Ryan Gosling again in another Nice Guys. After Crowe praised Gosling’s new film The Fall Guy on X, fans flooded the comments asking about a potential sequel. However, these requests have gone unanswered so far, leaving fans still yearning for a sequel a year later.

During this period, Crowe and have taken on numerous new film projects, while Rice and are making a name for themselves independently. As for Black, his latest movie, currently in post-production and awaiting release, is titled Play Dirty. Black not only co-wrote but also directed the upcoming crime thriller, which is an adaptation of Richard Stark’s 1962 novel The Hunter. Mark Wahlberg, who shares lead roles with LaKeith Stanfield in Play Dirty, expressed excitement about the movie back in August, calling it “a perfect blend,” mentioning its action, high stakes, humor, memorable characters, and the best Shane Black dialogue.

The Nice Guys arrives on Paramount+ on June 1.

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2025-05-30 22:24