Josh Brolin Talks GOONIES 2 and Reveals “There’s Been 5 Scripts”
A lot of fans have been hoping for years that one day we would see a sequel to The Goonies, and with Hollywood riding high on nostalgia lately, it was no surprise that it was officially announced that Goonies 2 is in development with producer Steven Spielberg.
Now Josh Brolin has offered us some insight that gives us a clearer picture of what’s going on with the sequel.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Brolin, who played big brother Brandon Walsh in the 1985 cult classic, revealed that The Goonies 2 has been stuck in development limbo for quite a while. The main reason? Creative control and the high standards of Spielberg. Brolin said:
“I hope it does [happen] because the experience was so great. I think there’s been five scripts so far through the years, and he hasn’t approved anything yet. Spielberg is picky, and he has a reason to be because he has great taste.”
So while Brolin is open to revisiting the iconic role, he’s also aware of the risks that come with messing with a beloved classic.
“It’s like, ‘Oh, we came out with another,’ and then the Goonies grew up, and then they came out with their walkers, and then they fell off a cliff because they couldn’t see very well. What are you going to do? I don’t know.”
Directed by Richard Donner and written by Chris Columbus and Spielberg, the film followed a ragtag group of kids who uncover a pirate treasure map and go on a wild adventure. Its ensemble cast included Sean Astin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green, Martha Plimpton, Ke Huy Quan, and John Matuszak.
Released with a modest $19 million budget, The Goonies went on to gross over $64 million worldwide and gained legendary status over the years. In 2017, it was added to the National Film Registry for its lasting cultural impact.
Back in February, Warner Bros. announced that Potsy Ponciroli was brought on to write a script for the long-awaited sequel, with Spielberg reportedly returning as producer. But since that announcement, everything’s gone quiet, making it pretty clear that The Goonies 2 is still in the very early stages of development.
As it stands, returning to the franchise is alive, but far from guaranteed. And with Spielberg still holding the keys to the treasure chest, fans may be waiting a while longer to see if Mikey and the gang will ever reunite on the big screen.