Will a virus strike again?

Remember Contagion? The film that sent many into religiously washing their hands for weeks after seeing it? The feature was a critical and box office hit, and though it very much seems like a one-off film, the ending was left somewhat ambiguous, and the world still an ugly place. Though it was never truly intended, it seems studio Warner Brothers would like to continue to ride that success, and a second film is in fact a possibility.

The Wrap reports that WB has sent out an “open writing assignment” for screenwriters for a Contagion 2. This means that the film is very early in development, and may not even come to fruition. But, it’s said that should there be a significant development, original writer Scott Z. Burns will produce. It’s unclear if original director Steven Soderbergh would return to helm the sequel, but he’s made such a fuss about his planned retirement after his next few films that it’s extremely doubtful.

It’s also unknown if Matt Damon, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard and others would return in their roles from the first film as well. The diverse and relatable characters are what made Contagionso realistic, not to mention Soderbergh’s almost horror-like style of filmmaking was one of the most loved pieces from the film as well. If neither of those return, not to mention if the script is just a lazy “it’s another virus” plot, it may not be the best thing for Warner Brothers to go through with.

Released last fall, Contagion grossed a modest $135 million worldwide off of a $60 million budget. It’s unclear if Warner Brothers will give the seuel more, but it’s expected to stay within the same range if it moves into production. While the ending is somewhat open with the vaccine slowly becoming avaiable, it’s still a very satisfying one.