Ready Player Two: Sequel Novel Release Date Announced



Ballantine Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, announced that Ready Player Two, the much-anticipated sequel to Ernest Cline’s novel Ready Player One, will be released on November 24th. Cline’s first novel, released in 2011, was a smash hit, rising to the New York Times best seller list and staying there for over fifty weeks. Ready Player One was a success with fans all around the world, and has since been translated into over 20 languages. In 2018 it was turned into a film directed by Steven Spielberg, in which Cline was heavily involved.

Cline was working on the film adaptation of Ready Player One with Spielberg while he was writing the sequel, which presented challenges for him. He wanted to make sure the book was a sequel to the original novel, and not the film adaptation. Cline held off on watching the final cut of the film until after his first draft was finished to avoid any unintentional influence. However Spielberg did offer some ideas to Cline about the sequel as they were brainstorming for the movie. Cline also clued Spielberg in on where he is going with the sequel, so Spielberg could end the first film and create room for another film. According to Cline he did an excellent job, and a sequel movie based on the new book would be welcome.

The big question is whether or not Spielberg would be attached to direct. Some members of the cast of Ready Player One mentioned they were contracted for sequel films, but Spielberg might be a harder sell. He claimed it was the third hardest film he has ever directed, right behind Jaws and Saving Private Ryan. He may need a little more time away before he is ready to tackle another film in the Oasis.

-PB