The long-awaited Cloverfield 2 is currently in the works and rumors are spreading about the film's plot being based around a virus, raising questions about how well that type of storyline could do in theaters. The original Cloverfield was a found-footage Godzilla movie released in 2008 and has had two spin-off movies, 10 Cloverfield Lane and The Cloverfield Paradox made since then. Cloverfield 2 is supposed to be a direct sequel to the original film and is currently being produced by two of Cloverfield's creators, J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves.

In an interview with Syfy, Matt Reeves teased Cloverfield 2's plot as potentially going down the route of being a virus film inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting contemporary fears much in the way the original can be seen to reflect a post-9/11contemporary setting.


According to Reeves, he often inserts his own anxieties and fears into his films and believes that a virus would evoke powerful and horrifying themes of an invisible monster and the uncertainty of who could be next. Though this storyline is far from being confirmed as the plot of Cloverfield 2, it does raise questions about its potential success, especially in the current state of horror.

Cloverfield 2’s Real-World "Viral Horror" Ties Could Be Too Real For Some


A major concern that arises when making a viral horror at this point in time is that the storyline could hit too close to home for audiences and turn them away. A horror pandemic plot could bomb completely because viewers are either burnt out on viruses or don't want to see their pandemic experiences as a monster in a Cloverfield horror movie if this iterations turns out to reflect as much. Now that several years have passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is more of a risk when portraying pandemics in media and making blatant connections to COVID-19.

This scenario can be made even worse because of its ties to Cloverfield. Though Cloverfield 2 is reportedly abandoning the found-footage element of the first film, it's likely that writers will still attempt to recreate the realistic, first-person perspective that Cloverfield gives. In this way, adding a more intimate viewpoint onto a virus plot could make some viewers even more sensitive to the film. Overall, making Cloverfield 2 a virus horror film could create various risks, such as audiences dismissing the film or feeling biased against it because of lived experience - though this sense of discomfort could also play into the horror genre perfectly.

Cloverfield 2 Would Go Against Recent Horror Wins (But This Could Pay Off)


Another aspect of Cloverfield 2 telling a story about a virus is that it doesn't fit in with the recent stream of successful horror films. Movies like M3GAN, Barbarian, and Pearl have all garnered popularity from horror fans and in certain ways, have reinvigorated the genre. In particular, these movies are shaking up typical horror tropes and offering audiences new stories that are campy but scary all the same. A virus horror would not really relate to this theme and, because of the relevance of viruses to real life, the opportunity for a unique plot is significantly decreased.

However, the relevance of contagious viruses could actually help Cloverfield 2 in the current climate. Where other horror films are attempting to divert audiences and give them new horror experiences, Matt Reeves' Cloverfield 2 story focusing on a pandemic could feel as familiar as long-running franchises like Scream and therefore balance out horror between the new and the old - somethign supported by Contagion's rise in popularity and series like The Last of Us and Sweet Tooth. So, although it could be a risk, Cloverfield 2 could also end up being a successful virus horror, in part due to the backdrop of similar shows and movies that have come before it.