Nearly 25 years after the original movie came out, fans are still hoping for any news on Galaxy Quest 2.
Summary
- Galaxy Quest 2 has been talked about as a possibility, but it's unclear why it hasn't happened yet, despite the enthusiasm of those involved.
- The death of Alan Rickman and the loss of his character's presence in the script has been a major setback for the sequel.
- While a television series adaptation of Galaxy Quest is in development, it's unclear how it will tie in with a potential sequel. The original cast members are likely to return, but Alan Rickman's absence will be felt.
Nearly 25 years after the original movie was released, fans are still looking for any Galaxy Quest 2 news. Galaxy Quest is a clever and entertaining sci-fi comedy that follows the cast of a Star Trek-like series who are mistaken for real intergalactic heroes and transported into space to help a group of aliens fight against their dangerous enemy. The movie was further elevated by the terrific ensemble which included Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Sam Rockwell, and the late Alan Rickman.
A modest financial hit when it was firstly released in 1999, Galaxy Quest has grown in popularity since its release with a cult following. While the Galaxy Quest 2 news since then has been sparse, there has been a steady stream of interest in a sequel to the incredibly astute Star Trek satire. Hope for the sequel has been kept alive, not only by the fans but also by the enthusiasm of those involved with the original movie. However, rumors of a television series adaptation as well as the death of Alan Rickman have thrown the future of Galaxy Quest 2 into question.
Galaxy Quest 2: Latest News
The latest Galaxy Quest 2 news continues to keep the sequel idea alive, though doesn't suggest it is any closer to actually happening. During a 2022 interview, Tim Allen gave a Galaxy Quest 2 update in which he confirmed that the movie was still talked about as a possibility. He insisted "this crew and everybody else with Galaxy Quest has been fighting to do this 'moments later' when the Thermians come back. We literally just talked about this yesterday, a group of us here, and we don't know why [it hasn't happened]."
While there is enthusiasm behind the scenes from those who were involved, Allen also gave one reason why a sequel has failed to materialize in recent years. He explains that, "There's been a script and our friend Alan Rickman passed away, so that script involving he and I in the whole story disappeared. The story itself was so clever and so fun." It seems as though Rickman's presence would have been a big part of the sequel and losing him changed that story completely. While it is possible a different version of the sequel could happen, losing screen legend Alan Rickman was obviously a blow to the original plans.
Galaxy Quest 2 Is Not Confirmed
Though Galaxy Quest 2 has not been confirmed, there have been some recent developments with the franchise. It was reported in April 2023 (via THR) that a Galaxy Quest television series was being developed for Paramount+. The production was far enough along that Mark Johnson, who was an executive producer on the original series, would be involved. Johnson's television career since Galaxy Quest has been impressive with his involvement in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. It is unclear if the show could work in conjunction with the proposed sequel or would simply replace it. At this point, no Galaxy Quest 2 release date has been announced, nor has there been any world on the show's release.
Galaxy Quest 2: Cast
The Galaxy Quest 2 cast is not set, but it is likely there would be a lot of returning actors from the original movie, including stars Tim Allen as Jason Nesmith and Sigourney Weaver as Gwen DeMarco. Though he was one of the supporting actors in the original movie, Sam Rockwell, who played Guy Fleegman, has become one of the biggest names in the cast, so he may have a bigger role this time around. Other notable characters from the first Galaxy Quest movie who could return for Galaxy Quest 2 include Tony Shalhoub as Fred Kwan, Daryl Mitchell as Tommy Webber, Enrico Colantoni as Mathesar, Missi Pyle as Laliari, and Justin Long as superfan Brandon.
Sadly, one key cast member who will not be returning is Alan Rickman, who passed away in 2016. Rickman's performance as Alexander Dane, the trained Thespian tired of being stuck in the same alien role for decades, was seen by many as the highlight of the movie. It is hard to imagine Galaxy Quest 2 without Rickman's dry wit involved. However, the strong ensemble of the original can also be added to with some fresh faces to tell a new story while possibly honoring Rickman and Alexander.
Galaxy Quest 2: Story Details
The Galaxy Quest 2 story is not yet known, but Tim Allen confirmed there was a full script at one point in the project's history. Allen explains that the sequel story would have largely focused on the relationship between Jason and Alexander. Obviously, with Rickman's passing, that script is no longer possible to use. The end of Galaxy Quest saw the Star Trek parody series getting a revival with the old cast returning. With so much time that has passed, it is likely the revival would have ended, and it could be interesting to see how the actors react if the show was rebooted with a younger cast.
Of course, the story for Galaxy Quest 2 would have to find a way to bring the characters back into space. Perhaps this time, the movie could find the cast willingly entering into another space adventure to feel they are still relevant and have a purpose. Tim Allen suggested the Thermians would continue to play a role in the sequel which could mean another threat against them emerges.
