Ahead of the film’s debut in international markets in a few weeks, filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde has hinted that his recent domestic box-office smash hit “Sound of Freedom” could get a follow-up.
The film centers on Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent who embarks on a mission to rescue children from sex traffickers in Colombia. Though reviews from critics were mixed, the movie has gone on to make $172.8 million from a budget of $14.5 million – making it one of the most profitable wide releases of the year.
It has also become something of a lightning rod of controversy in the American culture war, from its pay-it-forward marketing stunt, to arguments over its accuracy, its right-wing celebrity endorsements and the perceived fanning of the flames of conspiracy theorists.
Speaking with Variety about the film and the impact it has had, Monteverde revealed there’s “definitely a lot of interest” in exploring the film’s subject deeper as what they cover in the first film is “just the tip of the iceberg”. In fact he’s already got a setting in mind should a follow-up go forward:
“There’s a lot of interest to kind of explore Haiti, what’s happening in Haiti. There’s [sequel] talks focusing on Haiti. Haiti was a big part of Tim’s work. I was very tempted to do Haiti on this film. But I wanted to do an origin story, and it was too much material. I needed to end where I ended.”
He also tried to clear up some misconceptions about the film. Asked about the Pay It Forward program’s contributions to box-office, he says it was “Like 4% to 7%. I don’t know the number, but I know it’s under 10%.”
Monteverde also “bristles” at the faith-based label slapped on the film as the movie itself boasts only a couple of brief references to religion: “I believe labels such as ‘faith-based’ exclude people, and my intention as a filmmaker is never to exclude but to include everyone, all audiences.”
He also calls it “heartbreaking” to see “all this polemic and all this controversy going on” regarding his film. “Sound of Freedom” is still playing in U.S. cinemas and begins its international rollout in late August.
