Goonies 2 in the works: What’s known so far and what to expect
February 2025 saw one of the most exciting announcements for fans of 80s cult classic cinema. The Goonies 2 – a long-anticipated sequel to Richard Donner’s 1985 classic adventure – will finally come to fruition. That has sparked a great deal of excitement in anyone over the age of 40 as they finally get to share their love of the gang from the “Goon Docks” with a younger generation.
The 80s original was a certified classic, and this announcement is sure to generate significant noise between now and when the latest instalment will be released. While 40 years have passed since the first movie, its stars are still in tip-top condition and look ready to return to reprise their roles – only a little older and, hopefully, wiser.
Whenever such an exciting announcement is made, it’s easy to get carried away with the rumour mill and fall down rabbit holes. When facts are scarce and there’s a lack of solid information, imaginations can go into overdrive.
So what is already known about the upcoming sequel, what can be expected, and – the most important question – why now?
The why: A legacy unlike any other 80s family adventure movie
We’ll tackle the last question first here. Why now for a film that has reached 40 years old, and whose child stars are now rapidly approaching pension age? Well, there are likely a couple of answers to that question.
The first being that nostalgia is en vogue in TV and cinema. We’ve seen Top Gun return to the big screen, Bill and Ted enjoying another venture, and Cobra Kai expanding the Karate Kid universe. Nostalgia means cash in Hollywood right now.
The Goonies is a frequent relevant cultural touchstone for 80s nostalgia, too. It remains a popular movie to this day and continues to display an unshakeable legacy, even outside of cinema and streaming. There are even Goonies-themed interactive games available on platforms like karamba.co.uk, which hosts eight. That shows just how popular it is, given that a modern game has been based on a four-decade-old IP.
Looking at its legacy, it’s also very clear that the movie has had significant influence on the media of today. Stranger Things, which also starred Goonie Sean Astin, very clearly borrows the adventure vibe of the kids from the 1980s classic.
Almost any film or TV show with an ensemble cast of child actors will draw serious influence from The Goonies. Mainly because it’s one of the quintessential coming-of-age stories, alongside dramas like Stand By Me.
What to expect: A new adventure and a new cast?
Talk of a sequel to The Goonies has been swirling since the original was released. However, every year that there was no sign of it made it seem increasingly unlikely to be a direct follow-up and instead would need to be more akin to a reboot – hard or soft. Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Ke Huy Quan, and Jeff Cohen very quickly grew into adults, scuppering the chance of another adventure with the kids.
In fact, with Cohen – the loveable Lawrence, insultingly nicknamed Chunk – retiring from acting, and Quan taking a long step back from the spotlight, it seemed like the chance had been lost and would require a whole new cast.
However, the latter is back to being a certified star after his Academy Award win for Everything Everywhere All at Once. And the rest of the cast are apparently all raring to go, too.
Last year, it was reported at Variety.com that Quan had said he would “love to” make a sequel, and Corey Feldman confirmed that the rest of the cast were fit and ready to reprise their roles. He said, “Everybody is looking good … We’re all looking good still, and we’re all alive. Goonies never say die…There’s hope!” So, it’s likely that we’ll see most – if not all – of the gang back together.
What is confirmed? The details already known
Producer and director Potsy Ponciroli will write the script for this sequel, with it not yet confirmed who will direct. Ultimately, this is as much as is known about the project at this stage.
The producers, including Steven Spielberg and Chris Columbus, are keeping tight-lipped about the project at the moment. It’s likely that details are yet to be confirmed.
At the end of the day, The Goonies is a certified classic of 80s cinema. It will take a whole lot of effort to recapture the magic of the original. If they can utilise the adult cast and introduce some new younger analogues for the original characters, they might just get this long-awaited sequel to match the first.
The editorial unit
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