Is ‘War Machine 2’ happening? Alan Ritchson’s sci-fi ends with a cliffhanger that raises sequel questions
‘War Machine’, the new sci-fi action movie that just landed on Netflix on March 6. At the center of the story is Alan Ritchson, best known to many viewers for leading the hit series ‘Reacher’. This time, though, Ritchson trades detective work for combat boots as he steps into the role of a soldier known only by a number: 81. In the film, 81 is a combat engineer who decides to enlist in the U.S. Army’s Ranger program after a personal tragedy. His brother’s death becomes the moment that pushes him toward a path they once dreamed about together: earning a place among the elite Rangers.
The early portion of the movie focuses on that grueling process, with recruits being pushed to the edge through exhausting drills and punishing tests designed to weed out anyone who can’t handle the pressure. And then something completely unexpected happens. Right when the recruits are still trying to survive bootcamp, the situation goes sideways in a big way. An alien machine, an enormous and deadly robotic threat armed with technology beyond anything humans have built, arrives and begins wreaking havoc. Yes, a robot from outer space. Against the odds, 81 manages to confront the invading machine and destroy it.
That alone would normally wrap up a movie’s main conflict, but ‘War Machine’ isn’t done. Because right after that victory, the story drops a twist that changes everything. 81 learns that the robot he destroyed wasn’t the only one sent to Earth. Many more of these extraterrestrial machines have already infiltrated the planet, positioning themselves for something bigger. The movie ends right there, leaving viewers with a brutal cliffhanger that hints at a big confrontation still waiting around the corner. Which naturally leads to the obvious question fans have already started asking: will there be another installment? For now, the answer is maybe.
Netflix hasn’t officially said whether the film will continue as a series or remain a one-off story. That decision will probably depend on how the movie performs with audiences on the platform in the coming weeks. Still, the people involved in making the film seem pretty open to the idea of returning to this world. During a recent conversation with Decider, Ritchson joked about the possibility of a sequel. According to the actor, “It's already done. We're already ready to shoot.” He even joked about where the story might head next, saying his character ends up traveling to Paris and staying at the famous Le Bristol Paris hotel.
There, apparently, 81 “gets that really lovely chicken truffle soup that they have.” Meanwhile, the film’s director and co-writer Patrick Hughes said, “I don't know, if that opportunity came up, then yeah. Look, I know exactly where I want to take it, and what that broader story is. For me, I wanted to tell a film that started with the micro, and ended with the macro. And I thought that was a really unique take on the genre that we were working in. Let's see what happens.” That leaves things in an interesting spot. The film clearly sets up room for a continuation, yet whether it actually happens depends on the reaction from viewers now that the movie is available on Netflix.
