Warner Bros.
Everyone seems to want a sequel to 'The Nice Guys', so why hasn't it happened?
The term “cult classic” gets tossed around way too easily these days. But there are few movies released this century that deserve the moniker as much as The Nice Guys.
The film was initially overlooked when it hit theaters, but in the decade since, The Nice Guys, which starred Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling as a pair of private investigators in 1970s California, has become one of the most beloved films of its era.
With The Nice Guys‘ fanbase only growing and virtually everyone involved in the project open to a sequel, why hasn’t it happened? We asked Academy Award winner Russell Crowe exactly that while speaking to him ahead of the release of his new film Unabomber.
Everyone seems to want a sequel to The Nice Guys — Russell Crowe told us why it hasn’t happened yet
Everyone seems to want a sequel to THE NICE GUYS.
I asked Russell Crowe what, specifically, is stopping it from happening 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/23KncmypiO
— Eric Italiano (@ericitaIiano) September 19, 2026
ERIC ITALIANO, BROBIBLE: Why do you think THE NICE GUYS took time to become the beloved cult classic it is now? And now that everyone agrees it’s a masterpiece, what specifically is standing in the way of a sequel?
“Yeah, it’s a funny thing. When we saw it, my day-to-day on-set relationship with Ryan Gosling was one of the most spectacular I’ve ever had. I don’t normally get affected by noise on the other side of the camera, but that kid can make me laugh at the drop of a hat,” Crowe explained of his experience working with Gosling on the film.
“He has a certain comedic perspective that just — every day is like ice skating. We don’t know where we’re going to go. We’re going to be slipping and sliding everywhere.”
“The release was very soft. We came out against ANGRY BIRDS. I mean, it was just hilarious at the time — Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling against ANGRY BIRDS. But the release was soft, and it’s very clear that it has gained a type of cult status,” the Oscar-winner continued.
While much of the creative staff may be on board to run it back, getting a film together has far more moving parts than that, Crowe explained:
“These things require a lot of ducks to get in a particular line. And as time goes by, it gets more and more difficult. Studio personnel changes; what people are involved in a specific production changes. You’ve got to have quite a few people — including outside investors and what have you — all agreeing to do it.”
Crowe and Gosling, however, were so open to doing a sequel that they were developing ideas for it while filming the first one.
“I don’t think there’s any negativity from the concept between me and Ryan. In fact, we were deep into conversations about what the sequel should contain when we were doing the first one. But we’ll see if I do get the opportunity to be on a film set with him again. It’ll be a joyful day for sure.”
Crowe will next be seen starring as controversial Harvard psychology professor Unabomber when it hits Netflix on September 25. You can check out the official trailer for Unabomber, which also stars Jacob Tremblay (as infamous domestic terrorist Ted Kaczynski), Annabelle Wallis, and Shailene Woodley, below.