Netflix reveals surprise Cloverfield sequel will air after Super Bowl
This is a huge shock: Netflix surprised Super Bowl viewers with a trailer for the mysterious Cloverfield sequel titled The Cloverfield Paradox — and revealed the film will begin streaming tonight after the big game.
The project’s description: “In the near future, a group of international astronauts on a space station are working to solve a massive energy crisis on Earth. The experimental technology aboard the station has an unexpected result, leaving the team isolated and fighting for their survival.” The project’s originally thought to be titled The God Particle.
According to the new trailer, the story will also provide some answers to questions raised by the original Cloverfield film. The ensemble cast includes Daniel Brühl, Roger Davies, Elizabeth Debicki, Aksel Hennie, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Chris O’Dowd, John Ortiz, David Oyelowo, and Zhang Ziyi.
The surprise move by Netflix move is a disruptive shot fired at NBC’s post-air plan to dominate television ratings and entertainment conversation with a special episode of its top-rated drama This Is Us. Notably, the version of the Cloverfield trailer that aired during the Super Bowl only told viewers the movie was “coming very soon.” But the online version — and an accompanying press release from Netflix — announced the company’s decision to put the movie on the streaming service Sunday night as soon as the game concludes.
According to Deadline, the J.J. Abrams-produced project directed by Julius Onah was initially expected to be released theatrically on April 20, but Netflix was in talks to stream the project early (and, apparently, those talks have totally succeeded).
The sequels follows 2008’s giant monster found-footage thriller Cloverfield and it’s far more confined 2016 survivalist sequel 10 Cloverfield Lane.
