Universal Pictures and Jason Blum's Blumhouse banner are developing a sequel to "The Purge," TheWrap has learned.
Written and directed by James DeMonaco, "The Purge" grossed $36 million this past weekend on a budget of only $3 million, making a sequel even more appealing.
However, "The Purge" currently has a 41% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while reviews from top critics are only 21% fresh.
The horror-thriller stars Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey as parents whose heavily-fortified home is broken into by a group of wealthy young people participating in an annual 12-hour-long ritual during which time all crime is legal, including murder.
The film is contained to one suburban neighborhood, so a sequel could explore the mayhem on a larger scale.
Blum and Sebastian Lemercier produced with Platinum Dunes principals Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form.
Blum has already taken the prescient step of applying for California's Film and Television Tax Credit program on "The Purge 2," which would have to start shooting before the end of the year.
That shouldn't be a problem if Blum's track record is any indication. The "Paranormal Activity" producer has put together low-budget sequels on short notice before, so if Blumhouse wasn't already developing a script, it is now.
