Following the surprise release of The Cloverfield Paradox on Netflix after the Super Bowl, all eyes have turned towards the future of the franchise. The original film, which was released 10 years ago, broke new ground in viral marketing and unconventional storytelling. Directed by Matt Reeves, Cloverfield turned out to be the start of a sci-fi universe that has focused on everything from mishandling technology to giant monsters to Alien invasions.


From continuing the unconventional marketing of the first film to 10 Cloverfield Lane to the surprise of The Cloverfield Paradox,the film series has delivered anthology installments in the vein of The Twilight Zone. It’s built on surprises and with fans eagerly awaiting the fourth film, it’s important to ask just how universe architect J.J. Abrams will keep audiences guessing, a skill the director honed with his culturally defining show Lost. The future looks very interesting for the franchise.


According to The Wrap that won’t have anything to do with releasing future films on Netflix. Sources close to the production shared with the site that the third installment of the Cloverfield franchise was released via Netflix to add to the sense of mystery that has become the hallmark of the franchise. Despite the mystery and sense of fun that came with the news, future films will have wide releases including Overlord, which the insider confirmed to be the fourth installment of the franchise slated for a late 2018 release date.


The synopsis for Overlord teases a collection of paratroopers and taking the story back in time to World War II. The group then faces a Nazi experiment while behind enemy lines. With the news that the Shepard Accelerator has caused multiple parts of space and time to blend together, it seems entirely likely that time travel could play a role in the future of the franchise. While The Cloverfield Paradox’s critical reception has been poor, the open ending of the film has added a much-needed chapter to the Cloverfield saga. Thanks to The Cloverfield Paradox any hints and easter eggs from the previous three films now have a reason for appearing in World War II.


Choosing to release The Cloverfield Paradox on streaming for whatever reason definitely generated interest. It’s a risky gambit on behalf of Paramount Pictures, however, that could, in the wake of news that no further films will be released to Netflix, leave fans confused. It also leaves the ending of The Cloverfield Paradox without resolution and for fans who hoped to see Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Daniel Bruhl’s characters return. The studio might have bitten off far more than they can chew by jumping from space travel on streaming services to supernatural World War II forces in movie theaters. The films must be careful not to draw too much from Abrams’ original mysterious drama Lost that left fans without explanations for the show’s mysteries.


Even with poor critical reception, however, The Cloverfield Paradox offers a key component that could be essential to deciphering the mysteries behind Overlord. Thanks to the film’s streaming release, fans should consider the possibility that releasing it via Netflix should allow eagle-eyed fans to comb over the film looking for Easter eggs that could tie into the franchise’s direction as a whole. Even if it’s unlikely, the Cloverfield films have proven that no marketing move is without purpose and thankfully there’s plenty of time to scour The Cloverfield Paradox for clues before Overlord is released.