While promoting her role in Practical Magic 2, actress Joey King shared her desire to return to the Bullet Train franchise.. She suggested that her character, The Prince, possesses a complex and tragic history that deserves its own cinematic spotlight.

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The Prince's Unfinished Vendetta Against Her Father

The character of The Prince, portrayed by Joey King, experienced a sudden and violent end when she was killed by a truck during the finale of the 2022 film. Despite this abrupt exit, the character's motivations provided a glimpse into a much darker life. The source notes that her primary goal was to assassinate the father who had abandoned her and her brother, who was struggling with drug addiction.

During her recent interview, King's Practical Magic 2 co-star Maisie Williams agreed that there is significant narrative potential left on the table. A prequel could dive deep into these traumatic origins, transforming a secondary antagonist into a fully realized protagonist by exploring the psychological descent of the character before she ever stepped onto the Shinkansen.

Leveraging the $239 million success of David Leitch's action hit

The commercial potential for a Bullet Train spinoff is anchored by the massive financial success of the original production. As reported by the source, the film earned over $239 million at the box office, a significant return on its reported $90 million budget . This profitability, combined with the high-energy direction of David Leitch, makes the property a prime candidate for expansion by a major studio.

The oirginal film's 126-minute runtime featured a massive ensemble, including Zazie Beetz and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, proving that audiences are hungry for this specific blend of comedy and thriller elements. The report also mentions that while critics were mixed, the film's ability to pull in viewers has fueled persistent rumors about the future of this expanding world.

The Tangerine and Lemon orphanage connection

Fan interest remains high regarding the potential for a spinoff centered on the assassin duo known as The Twins. This pairing , consisting of Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry), created a unique comedic and action-driven dynamic that resonated with viewerrs. A narrative exploring their shared history in an orphanage would allow the franchise to build more emotional weight while maintaining the chaotic energy established in the first installment.

Will the franchse pivot to Kōtarō Isaka's broader novel trilogy?

Future directions for the franchise remain uncertain as filmmakers decide whether to stick to the Maria Beetle storyline or expand into Kōtarō Isaka's wider Hitman novel trilogy. while the original film was a direct adaptation, the source mentions that subsequent novels like The Mantis exist in a loosely connected universe, similar to the interconnnected style of Quentin Tarantino films.

This leaves several specific questions unanswered for the production team. it is currently unknown if a new project would feature Brad Pitt returning as the mercenary Ladybug, or if the series would pivot toward entirely new characters. Additionally, it remains to be seen if David Leitch will return to helm a new chapter or if the franchise will seek a new creative direction to explore these unverified character backstories.