Paul Feig is potentially revving up a theatrical return for The Italian Job.
The filmmaker is in early talks with Paramount Pictures to helm a follow-up film to the studio’s 2003 action hit that starred Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton and Jason Statham, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Paramount is looking for a writer for the project.
F. Gary Gray’s 2003 heist film was inspired by 1969’s original The Italian Job that starred Michael Caine. The 2003 one centered on Wahlberg as Charlie Croker, a master thief who sets out on a revenge mission that involves rounding up his motley team to track down a cache of gold. The film received attention for its action scenes that saw the characters speeding around in Mini Coopers.
Hitting theaters May 30, 2003, The Italian Job collected $176 million globally to mark the studio’s highest-grossing release of that year. There were talks at the time about a sequel, but it never came to fruition.
Feig’s next project is The Housemaid’s Secret, with the sequel to his hit 2025 feature The Housemaid hitting theaters in late 2027 from Lionsgate. Sydney Sweeney and Kirsten Dunst are set for the thriller follow-up that adapts author Freida McFadden’s work.
The filmmaker is also attached to helm the horror movie Detention for Blumhouse Atomic Monster. Feig established his career with such comedies as Bridesmaids and The Heat.
THR’s review of The Italian Job from 1969 noted, “Caine is in top form, though the script keeps him in short supply of rewarding material.”
Deadline was first to report on Feig’s planned follow-up to The Italian Job.
