In Edge of Tomorrow, aliens called Mimics arrive at Earth in 2015. Within five years, the world is a battleground between the surviving humans and the Mimics. The film, based on the science-fiction novel of the same name, is a reimagining of aliens conquering earth and manipulating time. Physics elements like alternative realities and time travel are central to the plot. Edge of Tomorrow also reimagines the concept of a hero. In many films, the hero is someone who is a natural leader who would never utter “I’m sorry” unless they were about to perish.
The film’s present setting, along with the aforementioned elements, have fans wondering if a sequel is on the way. It’s certainly a possibility, considering plenty of successful films are getting sequels. Additionally, the lead actors, Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise, are powerful action stars, although a sequel may not be the best idea for Edge of Tomorrow. Much of the criticism for the film is a reframe for why it was beloved. Yet what makes the film worthy of a sequel for others is exactly why it should be left to its solitary imperfection for others. Below is an exploration of why the film can work as a sequel and why it may not work.
Would Work: Emily Blunt Is on Board
Blunt has such an incredible career. She has been in countless blockbusters like Into The Woods and The Devil Wears Prada. In these films and many others, she has shared the screen with well-known actors like Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, and Stanley Tucci, to name a few. Blunt has even struck gold with fellow actor and husband John Krasinski and their soon-to-be-trilogy A Quiet Place. Considering her history, it’s no surprise that she is keen to work with Cruise again. After all, she worked with the legendary Streep twice.
Wouldn't Work: Confusing Storyline
Unfortunately, sequels don’t always work the way studios and fans expect them to. Especially with science fiction, so many elements need to be in place for a stand-alone film to work that it’s riskier to make a sequel in this genre. With this in tow, one of the largest critiques of Edge of Tomorrow is that it’s confusing. Between the time loop/manipulation merged with the aliens who created a dystopian world, the first film might need to be the last.
Would Work: Sci-Fi and Groundhog Day United
Groundhog Day centers on a weather forecaster named Phil (Bill Murray) who becomes stuck in a time loop. After the third day in the loop, he begins taking risks he normally wouldn’t since he faces no consequences. The film is largely respected for its philosophical message and for Murray’s dry wit. In Edge of Tomorrow, the film follows a similar pattern, but in a different way. Critics and fans alike rave about the film’s ability to unite Groundhog Day’s playfulness with time and science-fiction elements like aliens, dystopian worlds, and unexpected heroes rising up.
Wouldn't Work: Alien’s Name and Appearance Were Confusing
Another critique of Edge of Tomorrow centers on the aliens, known as The Mimics. They are shape-shifters who land on earth and take it over quickly. At first glance, they look like a charred tree. But they actually have tentacles and move quickly, destroying everything in their path. Comparatively, in the novel All You Need is Kill, The Mimics are more spherical with spikes, as Fandom details. The book-to-film adaptation of aliens are often transformed in ways fans of the book disprove. Additionally, the aliens were called Mimics, but the movie doesn't clearly state who or what they are mimicking.
Would Work: Mindful Protagonists Make for Good Cinema
Character arcs can make or break a project. Some characters need to grow while others need to remain the same — both are significant to the plot. For example, protagonists tend to be portrayed as strong and virtually remain the same. Yet some protagonists begin their story as insecure and have massive growth, which is also known as the underdog trope.
In Edge of Tomorrow, Major William Cage (Cruise) is not someone who sounds like an underdog, which is what makes the film so exciting. Actually, this is the reason Blunt wants a sequel, as recalled by Uproxx. Cage’s vulnerability and susceptibility to become better made the film exceptional.
Wouldn't Work: The Final Battle Was Disappointing
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In any story, the climax is the turning point for the characters. Typically, this big moment in film is a fight of some kind. As Edge of Tomorrow’s premise revolves around Cage and other humans reclaiming earth from The Mimics, everything should build up to an epic battle. However, some audience members felt the final battle was a huge let-down. In many ways it’s like all the action and energy was put into everything leading up to the battle and then the battle was abandoned.
Would Work: Brad Pitt Could Be Brought In
Hollywood has an interesting process of who is chosen for a role. Some actors are offered roles, while others are offered an audition for a role. In this era of franchises, actors have opportunities to join a film with a different role. For Edge of Tomorrow, one of the actors who was considered to play Cage was another action hero: Brad Pitt. If a sequel is in the makes, it might be an opportunity for Pitt or other actors who were considered alongside Cruise to be part of the franchise.
Wouldn't Work: Ending Didn’t Work Well
The Omega is central to The Mimic’s connections and has the power to reset the loop. Additionally, The Omega maintains all the knowledge of every interaction with humans. Because they can anticipate humans movements, they can evade being destroyed. Yet Cage is the one who destroys The Omega. However, some fans believe that Cage has become the new Omega because he wakes up in a different place than where he was waking up previously. Because of these two aspects, it may be difficult to conceive a sequel, especially if we already know that Cage is the protagonist.
Would Work: Using a Rejected Ending as a Starting Point
The writing process is arduous and time-consuming. Yet films and other productions often begin with a draft and go through hundreds of changes. Even while filming, scenes are re-written or added to help with the flow of the story. Due to the labor of writing a movie, some endings to films are scrapped despite being powerful. Should an Edge of Tomorrow sequel happen, one of the endings that was rejected or scrapped could be a starting point.
Wouldn't Work Groundhog Day Formats Are Overdone
Algorithms are fed information and from that information generate an output. Since Hollywood is at a standstill due to ongoing strikes in hopes to combat algorithms and AI use, it’s clear that laborers are tired of the same loop. While there’s no denying that Groundhog Day is an iconic comedy, the format of a time loop is arguably overdone. Between cartoons like The Simpsons and movies Palm Springs, original ideas need to be put forth. Therefore, if a sequel is in line for Edge of Tomorrow, it needs to be completely different from the time loop foundation.
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