2013 Cult Classic Coherence 2 Gets Massive Update Creator From James Ward Byrkit

In 2013, writer/director James Ward Byrkit debuted his mind-bending science fiction thriller Coherence, the ultra low-budget film that was shot over the course of five days, and has since gone on to become a beloved cult favorite. Dealing with themes of reality, regret, and free will, it’s one of those movies that you can watch over and over again, and find something new with each viewing. After more than a decade, a sequel was finally announced back in May, and we caught up with Byrkit to discuss what that’s going to look like for the fans who have been eagerly anticipating what comes next.

In an interview with MovieWeb earlier this week, we spoke at length with Byrkit about his phenomenal new series, Shatter Belt, before the conversation turned to Coherence, and the unique way it was filmed. While traditional movies have a script to go off of, such wasn’t the case with the 2013 classic, which instead utilized diagrams, story beats, and red herrings to capture the real reactions of the actors as they deduced what was going on. The concept worked so well for Coherence that we asked him if he was going to employ the same method this time around, because as the old adage goes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

“You’ve nailed a question that comes up all the time. I think it’s going to be a hybrid, because we have to have a script in order to get actors, and in order to get funding. But, when we actually shoot it, I think we’re going to go back to diagrams, and a whole plan that’s almost more like an escape room, or a funhouse, where we have planned an adventure for the actors. They don’t’ know exactly what it is, they’ve read a script, a possible route it could go, but we’re going to give them a lot of freedom to improvise, and to work out the mystery themselves so that we can capture that, and all the reality of their interactions as they unfold.”

Will Coherence 2 Be a Sequel or a Prequel?

This time around, Byrkit is teaming with producer Kate Andrews, who had a hand in bringing the recent hit, It’s What’s Inside, to Netflix. Along with Byrkit’s writing partner, Alex Manugian, the trio are poised to once again delve into the Twilight Zone-esque world of Coherence to explore themes of consciousness, reality, and the human condition, but the question remains: will Coherence 2 be a sequel, a prequel, or something else entirely? Byrkit wasn’t able to spill the full can of beans, but he did tease that fans of the first movie will instantly recognize certain components that will be present in the follow-up.

“It is going to be a different cast and a different story. It’ll be directly connected. You’ll recognize elements instantly that are continuations and themes. I don’t want to say too much because it’s right at that moment of trying to find that perfect balance of elements, and we’re really excited about the story that’s kind of developed.”

With Coherence being one of our all-time favorite movies, that’s enough to pique our interest, and we can’t wait to see what Byrkit and company have in store for us next. In the meantime, be sure to check out his latest series, Shatter Belt, which combines all the best elements of The Twilight Zone to deliver a truly unique experience that’s not to be missed. All four episodes are available now on your favorite VOD platform.