At this stage of Hollywood's recycling efforts, it's hard to be surprised anymore. As the industry scrapes the bottom of the barrel to revive any hint of nostalgia—evidenced by the ill-advised Practical Magic 2 or the improbable The Mummy 4 with Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz reportedly in production—we must brace ourselves for anything.

This includes a sequel to The Italian Job, the entertaining heist film released in 2003, featuring Mark Wahlberg, Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, and Edward Norton. That film was itself a remake of the 1969 classic The Italian Job starring Michael Caine. More than twenty years later, Paramount Pictures has decided to greenlight The Italian Job 2, and they've chosen a director no one saw coming.

Braquage à l'italienne : Photo Charlize Theron, Mark Wahlberg, Jason Statham Twenty years ago: not much more hair

HOLLYWOOD HEIST

According to Deadline, Paramount Pictures is looking to hire Paul Feig to direct The Italian Job 2. Yes, that Paul Feig—the creator of the cult series Freaks and Geeks, whose film career truly took off with the phenomenal success of the comedy Bridesmaids in 2011. That film grossed over $290 million worldwide on a budget of around $30 million, earning two Oscar nominations (Best Original Screenplay for Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, and Best Supporting Actress for Melissa McCarthy).

Since then, Feig has largely remained in the realm of comedy, whether intentional or not: the buddy cop comedy The Heat with Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy in 2013; the spy comedy Spy, also with Melissa McCarthy, in 2015; the much-debated Ghostbusters reboot in 2016; the thriller A Simple Favor with Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in 2018; the rom-com Last Christmas starring Emilia Clarke in 2019; the young adult adaptation The School for Good and Evil on Netflix in 2022; the action-comedy Jackpot with Awkwafina and John Cena set for Amazon Prime Video in 2024; and A Simple Favor 2, which premiered directly on Amazon in 2025. He's certainly kept busy.

spy melissa mccarthy jason statham Spy, one of his funniest films

It's worth noting another recent Hollywood 'heist' of a different kind: The Housekeeper. In 2025, this homage to 'Hollywood Night' (if you know, you know) and potential B-movie broke the box office, raking in over $400 million on an official budget of $35 million, once again prompting questions about the state of Western civilization. Its sequel, The Housekeeper's Secrets (seriously, how can one keep a straight face?), is in the works, still with Sydney Sweeney, but this time directed by Paul Anthony Kelly.

La Femme de ménage 2 : le casting s’agrandit encore pour la suite avec Sydney Sweeney

So, Paul Feig is expected to tackle The Italian Job 2, which is, by all accounts, not a comedy. Perhaps he'll shift gears from his comedic inclinations and draw on his experience with action sequences from films like The Heat and Spy for the occasion.

Braquage à l'italienne : photo Mini Coopers, maxi expectations

**Will the original cast of The Italian Job return?** There's little doubt Paramount is banking on it, as it's arguably the sequel's strongest selling point. Given that Paul Feig has already worked with Charlize Theron (The School for Good and Evil) and Jason Statham (Spy), their return is far from impossible. And considering the trajectory of Mark Wahlberg's career, he likely has no better prospects. The only certainty, it seems, is that Edward Norton, who played the villain, will not be back; the actor reportedly made the first film out of contractual obligation to Paramount.

In 2003, The Italian Job was a modest hit, grossing over $176 million worldwide against an estimated $60 million budget. The remake was directed by F. Gary Gray, who later helmed Fast & Furious 8, where he reunited with Charlize Theron and Jason Statham. It just goes to show, everything in Hollywood eventually circles back to cars. Alright, next up: a sequel to Gone in 60 Seconds.