{"id":2037281,"date":"2026-07-10T12:00:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T09:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2037281"},"modified":"2026-07-10T12:00:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T09:00:29","slug":"a-free-willy-spin-off-is-in-the-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2037281","title":{"rendered":"A \u2018Free Willy\u2019 spin-off is in the works"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Free-Willy-Image.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><span>Film News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">A \u2018Free Willy\u2019 spin-off is in the works<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Marvel directors The Russo Brothers are developing the project<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Victoria Luxford<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-10T13:00:29+01:00\">10th July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Free-Willy-Image-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"Free Willy\" title=\"Free Willy Image\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Jason James Richter in a scene from 1993&#8217;s &#8216;Free Willy&#8217;. CREDIT: Warner Brothers\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The \u201890s family movie franchise <em>Free Willy<\/em> is being rebooted, with Marvel directors The Russo Brothers producing the film.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE:<\/strong> Joe and Anthony Russo on their most iconic film scenes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Released in 1993, <em>Free Willy<\/em> told the story of a young boy who befriends an orca whale named Willy, who lives in captivity at an ailing amusement park. When he learns that the owners plan to kill the animal for insurance money, the boy hatches a plan to release him into the wild. The film co-starred Lori Petty (<em>Orange Is The New Black<\/em>) and Michael Madsen (<em>Reservoir Dogs<\/em>). Michael Jackson wrote the theme for the film, \u2018Will You Be There\u2019, which went platinum.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>The first movie was a box office hit, and led to two sequels in the late \u201890s, a cartoon series, and a straight-to-video reboot. Now, <em>The Hollywood Reporter<\/em> has revealed that a reboot is in development with The Russo Brothers\u2019 AGBO production company. Mary-Margaret Kunze and Jade Halley Bartlett will work together on the screenplay for the film. Kunze has previously produced Marvel TV projects Daredevil and <em>Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.<\/em>, while Bartlett directed the upcoming Netflix series<em> Icebreaker<\/em>.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Free Willy (1993) - Willy's Big Jump Scene (10\/10) | Movieclips\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sFBv3VL5GrA?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>Further information about the project is yet to be revealed, although the producers will be hoping for similar success to the original, which made $153.7million (\u00a3114.5million) worldwide (around $356.4million\/\u00a3265.6million when adjusted for inflation). The climactic scene, where Willy jumps triumphantly to freedom, became a cultural moment that was referenced by <em>The Simpsons<\/em> among others.<\/p>\n<p>The film\u2019s orca star, Keiko, became the subject of controversy as fans of the movie appealed for him to be released from captivity. He was reintegrated into the wild between 1996 and the early 2000s. Keiko struggled to adjust to the wild, having been raised in captivity from a young aged, and died in 2003, still in semi-captivity. His release and death was a subject of a <em>New York Times<\/em> short documentary in 2013.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Marvel<\/li>\n<li>Michael Jackson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_93 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_93\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\">\n<h4 class=\"td-block-title\"><span class=\"td-pulldown-size\">TRENDING<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_93\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Suki Waterhouse \u2013 \u2018Loveland\u2019 review: plenty to fall head over heels with<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">\u2018Evil Dead Burn\u2019 review: hotly anticipated horror sequel never quite catches fire<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Little Grandad: the alt-country band speeding towards stardom<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Step right up! 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When he learns that the owners plan to kill the animal for insurance money, the boy hatches a plan to release him into the wild. The film co-starred Lori Petty (<em>Orange Is The New Black<\/em>) and Michael Madsen (<em>Reservoir Dogs<\/em>). Michael Jackson wrote the theme for the film, \u2018Will You Be There\u2019, which went platinum.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>The first movie was a box office hit, and led to two sequels in the late \u201890s, a cartoon series, and a straight-to-video reboot. Now, <em>The Hollywood Reporter<\/em> has revealed that a reboot is in development with The Russo Brothers\u2019 AGBO production company. Mary-Margaret Kunze and Jade Halley Bartlett will work together on the screenplay for the film. Kunze has previously produced Marvel TV projects Daredevil and <em>Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.<\/em>, while Bartlett directed the upcoming Netflix series<em> Icebreaker<\/em>.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Free Willy (1993) - Willy's Big Jump Scene (10\/10) | Movieclips\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sFBv3VL5GrA?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>Further information about the project is yet to be revealed, although the producers will be hoping for similar success to the original, which made $153.7million (\u00a3114.5million) worldwide (around $356.4million\/\u00a3265.6million when adjusted for inflation). The climactic scene, where Willy jumps triumphantly to freedom, became a cultural moment that was referenced by <em>The Simpsons<\/em> among others.<\/p>\n<p>The film\u2019s orca star, Keiko, became the subject of controversy as fans of the movie appealed for him to be released from captivity. He was reintegrated into the wild between 1996 and the early 2000s. Keiko struggled to adjust to the wild, having been raised in captivity from a young aged, and died in 2003, still in semi-captivity. His release and death was a subject of a <em>New York Times<\/em> short documentary in 2013.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/film\/a-free-willy-spin-off-is-in-the-works-3956263&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Free-Willy-Image.jpg&#8221;] NewsFilm News A \u2018Free Willy\u2019 spin-off is in the works Marvel directors The Russo Brothers are developing the project By Victoria Luxford 10th July 2026 Jason James Richter in a scene from 1993&#8217;s &#8216;Free Willy&#8217;. CREDIT: Warner Brothers\/Getty Images The \u201890s family movie franchise Free Willy is being rebooted, with Marvel directors [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2037281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2037281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2037281"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2037281\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2037281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2037281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2037281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}