'Alita: Battle Angel 2' release date: Sequel may take 3 to 4 years to make after Disney greenlights it

The chances of “Alita: Battle Angel 2” getting confirmed within 2019 is getting slimmer. Fans of the first film, however, are not losing hope and are likely anticipating 2020 to be a better year. However, even if Disney announces the sequel as soon as next year, the wait for its actual premiere date might be extended by up to three to four years.

‘Alita: Battle Angel 2’ release date speculations: When would the sequel arrive

Hollywood has been dominated by long-running cinematic franchises in the previous years, especially in the sci-fi genre. It means the future of new titles like “Alita: Battle Angel” with regards to having a sequel or becoming a series is not always guaranteed. The good news is the cast, and members of the production team have shown interest in working on a sequel.

Jon Landau, who co-produced the first film with James Cameron, recently gave fans a general idea in the overall process of filmmaking when asked by CinemaBlend about the likely production timetable for “Alita: Battle Angel 2.” Hypothetically, if Disney confirms “Alita: Battle Angel 2” in 2020, it might not premiere until 2024. Again, fans should note that it is a very rough estimation since many factors affect a production timeline.

In this case, one of the biggest considerations is possibly Cameron’s work on upcoming “Avatar” movies. Landau revealed in a 2010 interview with MTV News that Cameron chose to work on the first “Avatar” movie before getting on the “Alita: Battle Angel” project.

Why ‘Alita: Battle Angel 2’ could take 3 to 4 years to make

In the same interview with CinemaBlend, Landau further explained that making a movie begins in writing the script that could take somewhere between 12 to 18 months. Once it is finalized, the project enters the pre-production phase for six to 10 months, followed by the production or filming that can go for at least six months. Landau then explained that the final stage, called post-production, usually takes a year.

Since “Alita: Battle Angel 2” would include a heavy amount of CGI, post-production is an important aspect in making the sequel. The producer, however, emphasized that it should not be specifically applied to the unconfirmed sequel likely because the film is not even set in stone yet.