Cannes: 'Hitman's Bodyguard' Sequel 'Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard' in the Works (Exclusive)

The first film — starring Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek — earned $177 million.

Millennium Films is lining up further assassination hijinks with a sequel to its 2017 hit The Hitman's Bodyguard.

Titled The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard, the film is being touted on posters in Cannes, alongside other major franchise titles "coming soon" from the action specialists, including Angel Has Fallen, The Expendables 4, Rambo V and Mechanic 3.

While no script is yet available, The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard is described in the Cannes market catalog as "The Good. The Bad. And the Batshit cray." Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson are believed to be reprising their roles, although the casting hasn't been confirmed, while Patrick Hughes is thought to be returning to the director's chair. Tom O'Connor – who wrote the original and has one of Cannes' hot market titles in his Cold War spy thriller Ironbark, with Benedict Cumberbatch attached to star – is working on the follow-up.

The 2017 original — starring Reynolds and Jackson, alongside Gary Oldman and Salma Hayek — became a global smash, topping the U.S. box office for three straight weeks and earning an overall haul of $177 million from a $30 million budget.

A version of this story appears in The Hollywood Reporter's May 8 daily issue from the Cannes Film Festival. Click here to download.