If you've ever been within 30 feet of me when I'm even slightly tipsy, you've probably been treated to a rant about what I think is one of the best action movies of all time. So, I couldn't be more delighted that Edge of Tomorrow is getting a sequel. I should warn you right now, that I feel very very strongly about this movie. Not only is Edge of Tomorrow one of my favorite movies I've ever seen, but I've also uttered the phrase "Tom Cruise is a national treasure" multiple times when talking about it. I think we can all agree that Emily Blunt was a complete strength-goddess in the original, and more than held her own opposite a man whom, again, I've referred to as a national treasure for his long and storied action career. With the women-friendly bar set so high in the original, I was interested to see how producers would follow up their successes in that arena in the sequel. And, boy, did they deliver.
Blunt's character Rita was a force to be reckoned with, not just "as a woman," which can be a stumbling block in these types of movies, but as a soldier, as a character, and as a human. This unapologetic feminism then seeped into the movie itself, turning Edge of Tomorrow into a celebration of Rita's strength without letting it get tangled up with her sexuality, which is huge, and unfortunately still very rare, especially in blockbusters of this size. Now, the Edge of Tomorrow sequel has added a female scriptwriter, and that's seriously amazing.
Her name is Anna Waterhouse, and she'll be penning the screenplay with Joe Shrapnel, a team that also worked together on the Jesse Owens biopic Race. Considering how effective I thought the first movie was with an all-male team, I can't wait to see how things change and improve with a female voice in the room. Edge of Tomorrow grossed $370 million worldwide, and it's a huge vote of confidence for any writer, giving them responsibility for the follow-up. It's awesome to see the producers quite literally putting their money where their mouths are. Rita is already such a goddess, and I think that she will become even more so in the hands of a female scriptwriter who can offer a perspective that a male scriptwriter couldn't, and understand Rita as a character in ways that a male scriptwriter couldn't.
I was already so, so excited about this sequel, but now I'm excited and thrilled that my love for this film continues to be paid off with amazing actions like this one.
Images: Warner Bros.; Giphy
