Forty-one years after a gang of misfit kids chased pirate gold under Astoria, Oregon, The Goonies 2 is finally more than a rumor. Warner Bros. confirmed the sequel is officially in development in February 2025. A writer is hired and a second draft is close to finished. But as of August 2026, no footage has been shot. I have followed every hint of this sequel since Richard Donner’s comments in 2014, and this is the most real it has ever been. That still does not mean it is close. Here is what is confirmed, what is rumor, and what is likely to happen next.
Biography Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | The Goonies 2 (working title) |
| Status | In development (script stage) |
| Studio | Warner Bros. |
| Production Company | Amblin Entertainment |
| Writer | Potsy Ponciroli |
| Producers | Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Holly Bario, Chris Columbus |
| Executive Producer | Lauren Shuler Donner |
| Director | Not yet attached |
| Development Confirmed | February 14, 2025 |
| Latest Script Update | August 30, 2025 (second draft 95% done) |
| Release Date | Not announced |
| Based On | The Goonies (1985) |
What Is The Goonies (1985) About?
The Goonies is a 1985 adventure film about a group of kids who try to save their homes with an old treasure map. Their Oregon neighborhood faces foreclosure because a property development company wants the land for a golf course. The kids find a map to the lost fortune of the pirate One-Eyed Willy and decide to find it before their families are forced out.
Richard Donner directed the film. He was already known for The Omen and Superman, and he would later make the Lethal Weapon series. Steven Spielberg came up with the story, and Chris Columbus wrote the screenplay. That mix explains the tone. It has Spielberg’s sense of wonder, Columbus’s chatty kids and Donner’s knack for action. It also has a few moments that lean into light horror.
The young cast became a who’s who of ’80s pop culture. Sean Astin played Mikey. Josh Brolin played his older brother, Brand. Corey Feldman, Ke Huy Quan, Martha Plimpton, Jeff Cohen and Kerri Green filled out the group. For most of them, it was one of their early roles. Brolin later became an Oscar nominee, and Quan became an Oscar winner decades later.
The film earned about $125 million worldwide. In 2017, the Library of Congress added it to the National Film Registry. I still think its biggest strength is how real the kids feel. They talk over each other, they fight and they are scared. That honesty is why the treasure hunt still works on a rewatch today.
The Goonies 2 Sequel History: Why Did It Take So Long?
A sequel has been discussed for almost 40 years. It never happened because no one could agree on a story good enough to match the original. Donner, Spielberg and Columbus tried several times. Each attempt fell apart over the script, the budget or the aging cast.
The Early Years: A Video Game, Not a Movie
The first “sequel” was not a film at all. In 1987, Konami released Goonies II as a video game on the NES. Many fans grew up thinking it was the official continuation. It even has its own story with the Fratelli family and a mermaid. That game is the reason so many people still search for “Goonies 2” and land on old cartridges instead of movie news.
In the years that followed, Donner and Spielberg kept talking about a film. Spielberg was busy with projects like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and the story never got past the idea stage. The child actors grew up fast. A direct kid-adventure sequel stopped making sense within a few years.
The 2000s and 2010s: Close, But Not Close Enough
Around 2008, Donner said the whole cast had agreed to come back. Nothing moved forward. In April 2014, he again said a sequel was happening and that he and Spielberg had a story idea. Fans got excited, but again, no concrete script appeared.
The mid-2010s made the idea look more possible. Legacy sequels such as Creed (2015) and The Force Awakens (2015) brought back older stars next to new faces. Stranger Things (2016) and It (2017) were also built on Goonies-style nostalgia. Hollywood clearly saw a market for it. Yet the Goonies team still could not crack the story.
Donner’s Death and the Rumors That Followed
In 2020, the original cast held a virtual reunion. Donner joined it, and the clip spread widely. He died in July 2021. Many fans assumed the sequel died with him. Several cast members had said the movie could not work without him.
In September 2024, a tabloid report claimed a sequel had the green light. Fake posters spread online. Martha Plimpton shut it down on Instagram, saying there was no script and no one was attached. Corey Feldman also denied it. Then, just five months later, the studio made it official. That turnaround surprised even longtime fans like me.
Official Confirmation: Who Is Producing The Goonies 2?
On February 14, 2025, Warner Bros. confirmed The Goonies 2 was officially in development. Steven Spielberg is producing through Amblin Entertainment, alongside Kristie Macosko Krieger and Holly Bario. Chris Columbus is also producing, and Lauren Shuler Donner is the executive producer.
Spielberg’s involvement matters most. He wrote the story of the original, and his approval decides whether the sequel moves forward. His longtime partner Kristie Macosko Krieger produced Lincoln, West Side Story and Maestro. Holly Bario is a senior Amblin executive. This is the same team that handles Spielberg’s biggest projects.
Chris Columbus brings a direct link to the first film. He wrote the 1985 screenplay and later directed hits of his own. His production company is 1492 Pictures. Having him back means someone who shaped the original voice is guarding it.
Lauren Shuler Donner is Richard Donner’s widow. They were married until his death in 2021. She is a major producer in her own right, with credits like You’ve Got Mail, Deadpool and Logan. Her role keeps Donner’s legacy inside the room, which many fans see as the right move.
As of now, no director is attached. That is the biggest missing piece after the script.
Who Is Writing The Goonies 2 and What’s the Script Status?
Potsy Ponciroli is writing The Goonies 2. In August 2025, he said his first draft was well received and his second draft was about 95% done. That is the latest public update. The project is still in the script stage.
Who Is Potsy Ponciroli?
Ponciroli is a writer and director. In 2016, he co-created the comedy series Still the King. His feature debut, the Western Old Henry (2021), premiered at the Venice Film Festival and got strong reviews. He has since made Greedy People and Motor City.
His work is grounded and character-driven. That is a good sign for a sequel that needs heart more than spectacle.
The August 2025 Update
On August 30, 2025, Ponciroli spoke at an event during the Venice Film Festival. He said the script was moving in the right direction. He also addressed fans who doubt the sequel. He called himself the biggest fan of the original and said he would never redo it. In his view, the story of these characters never really ended.
For me, this was the most encouraging news in years. It was the first time someone actually writing the film spoke about it publicly.
What Still Needs to Happen
A finished draft is not a green light. The script still needs Spielberg’s final sign-off. After that, the studio must hire a director, cast the film and set a budget. Ponciroli himself said he did not know when production would start. Here is where things stand:
| Stage | Status |
|---|---|
| Writer hired | Done (February 2025) |
| First draft | Done and well received |
| Second draft | 95% done (August 2025) |
| Spielberg’s final approval | Pending |
| Director attached | No |
| Cast announced | No |
| Filming | Not started |
The Goonies 2 Release Date: When Will It Come Out?
There is no official release date for The Goonies 2. The film is still in early development, with no director, no cast and no cameras rolling. Anything claiming a firm date is a rumor or a fan creation.
Is The Goonies 2 Coming Out in 2026?
No. The Goonies 2 2026 release talk came from the September 2024 tabloid report and from viral fake posters. Since filming has not started, a 2026 release is not possible. Even a fast production needs time for shooting, visual effects and post-production.
Big studio films usually take 1 to 2.5 years from the start of filming to release. If Spielberg approves the script soon and a director signs on quickly, a realistic window would be 2028 at the earliest. That is my honest estimate based on how studio films move, not an official date.
The Goonies 2 Netflix Release Date
There is no Netflix release date because there is no Netflix deal. The Goonies 2 is a Warner Bros. film. Warner Bros. normally releases its major films in theaters first. After the theater run, they usually go to the studio’s own streaming service rather than Netflix.
So if you see a “Netflix release date” online, treat it as false. The original film has moved between different streaming platforms over the years, depending on your country. The sequel will most likely follow the studio’s usual path.
What the Cast Has Said About Timing
At the Love Hurts premiere in early February 2025, Ke Huy Quan said he would love to make a film with the cast again. He made it clear nothing had been planned yet. His comments show how early the project still is, even with a writer on board.
The Goonies 2 Trailer: Is There One Yet?
No, there is no official The Goonies 2 trailer. A trailer usually arrives only after filming wraps, often six to twelve months before release. Since no footage has been shot, any trailer you find is fan-made.
YouTube is full of “official trailers” for The Goonies 2. Most are built from clips of the original film, other movies and AI-generated footage. Some use recent photos of the grown-up cast to look convincing. They get millions of views, which is why they keep coming.
Fake posters spread the same way. Titles like “Goonies Are Good Enough” and “Curse of One-Eyed Willy” went viral in 2024. The second one began as an April Fools’ joke. Both were shared as real news by many accounts.
A simple rule helps here. A real trailer will come from Warner Bros. or Amblin channels and will be covered by major entertainment outlets the same day. If it only exists on a random channel, it is not real.
The Goonies 2 Cast: Will the Original Cast Return?
No cast has been announced for The Goonies 2. No original actor is confirmed to return. Some cast members are open to it, while others have doubts. Whether they come back depends on Ponciroli’s script, which no one outside the production has seen.
Where the Original Cast Stands
Here is how each main member of the cast of The Goonies 2 conversation stands right now:
| Actor | Original Role | Stance on a Sequel |
|---|---|---|
| Sean Astin | Mikey | Supportive, has talked about it for years |
| Ke Huy Quan | Data | Very open; wants to work with the cast again |
| Josh Brolin | Brand | Cautious; worried it could taint the original |
| Corey Feldman | Mouth | Open, but has publicly denied past rumors |
| Martha Plimpton | Stef | Denied the 2024 rumors on Instagram |
| Jeff Cohen | Chunk | Left acting; now works as an entertainment lawyer |
| Kerri Green | Andy | No public comment on the sequel |
Ke Huy Quan’s Enthusiasm
Quan has the most momentum. His comeback led to a 2023 Golden Globe win for Everything Everywhere All at Once, followed by an Oscar. He has said many times that he would love to get the gang back together. His star power today would make him a natural pull for the studio.
Josh Brolin’s Doubts
Brolin is the most cautious. At the Weapons premiere in August 2025, he said Spielberg had not approved a script yet. Earlier, he joked that he had read about five scripts over the years and none of them worked. He worries a weak sequel could taint the original. Honestly, that worry feels fair.
Corey Feldman and the Rumor Mill
Feldman took to X in September 2024 to say there was no information about a sequel. He also joked that the cast was alive and doing well, after rumors made them sound older than they are. He has said he would come back for the right film.
What Is The Goonies 2 About? Plot Details So Far
No plot has been revealed for The Goonies 2. The studio has kept story details under wraps. What we do know points toward a legacy sequel, not a reboot.
Ponciroli has hinted that the film will continue the story, not repeat it. His comment that the story never ended suggests he wants to show where these characters are now. That is the legacy sequel model. Older characters return, and a new generation takes the lead.
Expect a character-first approach. Ponciroli’s past work focuses on people, not effects. A family-friendly tone is also likely, since Amblin protects the brand carefully.
Corey Feldman once described an older story Spielberg had in mind. That idea was set aside. It is unclear if any part of it made it into the new draft.
Three Possible Storylines for The Goonies 2
Since no plot is official, here are three directions the sequel could take. These are informed guesses, not leaks. Each one has pros and cons, based on how other legacy sequels have worked.
1. The Goonie Kids
The most likely option is a story about the next generation. Mikey’s children or Brand’s children find a new map and start a new adventure. The original cast would play parents in the background. Early drafts discussed over the years reportedly followed this exact idea.
The risk is that the new kids will always be compared to the originals. Finding child actors with that same chemistry is hard. Still, this is the safest path for a family audience.
2. The Meta Goonies 2
A bolder idea is a story where the original cast plays themselves. Hollywood is making a Goonies remake, and the cast is hired as consultants. Then the Fratelli brothers, out of jail, try to sabotage the production to avenge their late mother, played originally by Anne Ramsey.
Robert Davi and Joe Pantoliano could return as the Fratellis. A Cyndi Lauper cameo would be a fun touch. Films like Wes Craven’s New Nightmare and Scream 3 proved this meta style can work. It is unlikely, but it would be the most original take.
3. The Mature, R-Rated Goonies 2
The third option is an edgy comedy for the audience that grew up with the film. It would show how the kids turned out as adults. Maybe Mikey tries to keep the group together while the others chase getting rich.
Directors like Phil Lord and Chris Miller (21 Jump Street) or Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg could handle that tone. Spielberg and Amblin will almost certainly avoid it, though. An R-rated Goonies does not fit the brand.
Why We Don’t Need The Goonies 2
The case against the sequel is simple. The original works because it captured a moment. Recreating it decades later risks chasing nostalgia instead of telling a real story.
The biggest warning sign is time. The people behind the original spent years on a sequel and it never came together. If Donner, Spielberg and Columbus could not crack it, the lack of a story is a real problem, not bad luck.
Studio turmoil adds to the doubt. Warner Bros. has gone through major changes under CEO David Zaslav, with projects shelved and budgets tightened. In that climate, a costly nostalgia film could be delayed or dropped.
Many fans also feel ’80s nostalgia is overused. As a fan myself, I’d rather have no sequel than a forgettable one. Still, a finished script from a writer who loves the material is a better start than this project has ever had.
Richard Donner’s Legacy and the Sequel
Donner’s absence is the hardest part of making The Goonies 2. Many cast members have said the sequel felt impossible without him. He was the one who held the young cast together on set.
He was also one of the last directors with his exact range. He could handle horror, superheroes, action and kids’ adventure with the same skill. Finding a director who can match that balance will be difficult for the studio.
Donner’s death is not the only issue holding the film back. Script approval, budget and studio priorities matter just as much. But his legacy shapes every decision. With Lauren Shuler Donner as executive producer, his voice still has a seat at the table.
FAQs
Is Steven Spielberg directing The Goonies 2?
No. Spielberg is producing through Amblin Entertainment, not directing. The September 2024 rumors claiming he would direct were false. No director has been attached to the project yet.
Is The Goonies 2 a sequel or a reboot?
It is planned as a sequel. Writer Potsy Ponciroli has said he would never redo the original. The film is expected to continue the story, likely as a legacy sequel that mixes older characters with new ones.
Is the Goonies II video game connected to the new movie?
No. Goonies II was a 1987 NES game made by Konami. It has its own story and has no link to the film now in development. Many people still confuse the two when searching for the sequel.
Has filming started on The Goonies 2?
No. The film has not started filming. It is still in the script stage, waiting for final approval, a director and a cast. Production will only start after those pieces are in place.
When will the cast of The Goonies 2 and the release date be announced?
There is no timeline yet. Casting news usually comes after a director signs on, and the release date often follows once filming is scheduled. Both depend on Spielberg approving the final script.
Will Jeff Cohen return as Chunk?
It is uncertain. Jeff Cohen left acting years ago and now works as an entertainment lawyer. He has appeared at cast reunions, so a small cameo is possible, but nothing is confirmed.
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