Why The Raid 3 Still Hasnt Happened & Will There Ever Be Another Movie?

There are still questions about whether The Raid 3 will happen, even though it’s been 13 years since The Raid: Redemption was released. Gareth Evans’ Raid movies, which introduced the world to the Indonesian Pencak Silat martial arts, are some of the most influential action movies of the 2010s. The movies were so successful with both critics and audiences that they not only became cult classics, but also made the leading man in the franchise, Iko Uwais, a star who went on to work on notable films such as The Expendables.

Over the years since The Raid 2 was released, there have been discussions about a possible sequel, but so far, nothing has resulted from them. In 2022, it was announced that there would be a remake of The Raid with Michael Bay and Patrick Hughes at the helm (via Deadline). Although some audiences would have preferred a third movie from Evans instead, it seems like The Raid remake is going full steam ahead. However, despite this new direction for the franchise, the lack of movement on The Raid 3 is, for many, a concerning sign for the franchise’s future.

The Raid 3 Was Once In The Cards But Is No Longer Happening

Gareth Evans Wanted To Take A Break From Making Martial Arts Movies

A sequel to The Raid 2, The Raid 3 was supposed to happen but is no longer a possibility. Gareth Evans, the director of The Raid films, had planned to add a third installment to the franchise. The filmmaker even had an idea of what the third movie would be about. Before he could bring his idea to life, Evans wanted to take a two to three-year break from making martial arts movies so he could focus on other projects. “I’m not touching The Raid 3 for a couple of years from now,” said Evans in 2014 (via Metro).

Evans later changed his mind and announced that he wouldn’t be making The Raid 3 after all. Despite having an idea of which direction he would go with the movie, Evans felt that he wasn’t in the right headspace. After Evans moved back to the UK, the filmmaker decided that he was closing the chapter on The Raid franchise. The Raid 2 had a satisfying ending and although the interest to add another movie to the franchise is still there, Evans would likely not be part of it if it were to happen. “So never say never, but it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon,” said Evans (via Impact Online), confirming his distance from the project.

The Raid 3 Was Supposed To Take Place During The Events Of The Raid 2

Rama Would Have Had A Minor Role In The Raid 3

Although The Raid 2 wrapped up nicely, there was still room for an interesting storyline for The Raid 3. While speaking on the Empire Spoiler Special Podcast, Evans revealed the plot for The Raid 3. The director felt that Rama’s story was complete, so he wasn’t going to put the leading man in the line of fire again, seeing that he had a wife and child. Instead, the movie would have gone back in time and focused on the Goto crime family, with Rama expected to take on a minor role in The Raid 3.

The Raid 3 was supposed to have a time jump and go back to the moment in the meeting between the Goto gang and the Japanese gang when Goto ordered his right-hand man to kill every corrupt police officer and politician in the city. Instead of doing what he was told, his right-hand man would have gone behind Goto’s back and reported him to their Japanese boss, who then ordered a hit on Goto.

However, Goto survived the attack and went into hiding in the Indonesian jungle. He would have linked up with a mafia boss, who offered Goto protection. An all-out war between the Japanese kill squad and the guerrilla kids would have followed. Evans also revealed that Goto’s son would have been killed in the war, and they would have discovered that it was Goto’s right-hand man who betrayed them. This would have been an intriguing narrative direction for the franchise, introducing and centering new characters as well as expanding the story.

Gareth Evans Is No Longer Interested In Making Another Raid Movie

Gareth Evans Wants To Work On Other Projects

Despite The Raid movies being successful and becoming action cult classics, the films’ director is not interested in making another Raid movie. When speaking on the Empire Spoiler Special Podcast, Evans explained why The Raid 3 would not be happening. “I couldn’t see myself going back out to make The Raid 3. My interests had moved on to other projects,” said Evans. The director explained that he wants to work with other people and try new stories, underlining his determination to pursue other creative endeavors.

Evans also expressed that a lot of time has passed since The Raid 2, so he is not likely to return to the franchise, even though he enjoyed creating the movies (via Slashfilm). He has since worked on other movies and shows, including the Netflix horror film, Apostle, the popular British crime series, Gangs of London, and the short film Pre Vis Action. Given this range of projects, it’s fair to say that Evans has been busy since leaving The Raid 3 behind.

Sources: Deadline, Metro, Impact Online, Empire Spoiler Special Podcast, Slashfilm

Director

Gareth Evans

Release Date

March 23, 2012

Writers

Gareth Evans

Runtime

101 minutes