Screenwriter Zak Penn has confirmed that a sequel to Steven Spielberg's 2018 hit *Ready Player One* is still in active development, marking the clearest update on the long-gestating project in years. Penn, who co-wrote the original film with novelist Ernest Cline and is best known for scripting *The Avengers*, told The Direct simply that he is "working on it" while attending a separate film premiere, without offering further detail. Spielberg has confirmed he will produce rather than direct the follow-up, meaning another filmmaker will take charge of the project.

The first film grossed more than $607 million worldwide against a $175 million budget and earned a 72% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, establishing it as one of the decade's biggest original sci-fi blockbusters. Cline published the source novel for the sequel, *Ready Player Two*, in 2020, and revealed at the time that talks with Warner Bros. about a film adaptation had already begun. Development has proceeded slowly since then, but Penn's remarks suggest the project continues to move forward behind the scenes.