A Wind River sequel has been announced with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier director, Kari Skogland, attached to lead the project. Released in 2017, the neo-Western crime thriller was written and directed by Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan. After a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tracker, Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner), discovers the frozen dead body of 18-year-old Natalie Hanson (Kelsey Asbille), he partners with FBI Special Agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) to solve the murder on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The film was well-received by critics and audiences alike and proved successful at the box office.

Per Variety, a Wind River sequel is currently in development under the title Wind River: The Next Chapter. However, it has been announced that Sheridan will not be returning to direct the project. Instead, Skogland, who directed all six episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, has been tapped to helm the film. Friday Night Lights and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider writers Patrick Massett and John Zinman will pen the movie. Production on Wind River: The Next Chapter is expected to begin next year. Regarding casting, Martin Sensmeier returns as Chip Hanson, a local drug addict and Natalie's younger brother. This time, Chip has turned a corner in his life and joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a tracker. However, after being called in by the FBI, Chip quickly finds himself "embroiled in a desperate and dangerous fight between the authorities, a vigilante and the Reservation he calls home."

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Everything We Know About Wind River 2

Wind River Chip Hanson Martin Sensmeier

The announcement of Wind River: The Next Chapter may come as a surprise to many as its predecessor's story concluded succinctly with little room for furthering the narrative in a sequel film. Natalie's murderers were uncovered, and the mystery surrounding her death was revealed. Now, the upcoming movie will center on a new case focused on a series of unsolved ritualistic murders that plague the Wind River reservation. Based on that, it sounds like Wind River: The Next Chapter is instead aiming to further expand upon the titular setting rather than continue any lingering story threads. This could potentially pave the way for additional sequels down the line, though the success of The Next Chapter will ultimately decide that.

Sensmeier's return as Chip at least ensures Wind River: The Next Chapter will hold some connections to its predecessor. Through Chip, the sequel can perhaps explore what happened in the aftermath of Natalie's death and Lambert and Banner's investigation. At the very least, the events of Wind River have seemingly impacted Chip considering his new position, so viewers should expect a change in character for him.

Will Elizabeth Olsen & Jeremy Renner Return In Wind River 2?

Wind River Elizabeth Olsen Jane Banner

No additional returning Wind River cast members have been announced for the sequel. Due to the FBI again being called back to the reservation to investigate a new crime, it is possible that Olsen will return as Banner as she is now familiar with the territory. As Renner's Lambert is an experienced tracker with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it is also possible for the actor to reprise his role as Chip's mentor or supervisor due to their history on Natalie's case. The possibilities are there. Barring a future announcement with additional cast updates, audiences will have to wait to see if Olsen and Renner will return to their roles in Wind River: The Next Chapter.

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Source: Variety