The Near Miss: How an 'Upgrade' TV Series Almost Blew Our Minds

You know, there are some films that just stick with you, long after the credits roll. Leigh Whannell’s Upgrade, a brilliant blend of sci-fi action and body horror, is definitely one of them. Released back in 2018, it quickly garnered a devoted following thanks to its inventive premise, brutal action sequences, and a genuinely thought-provoking look at technology and autonomy. Fans have been clamoring for more of Grey Trace and the snarky, powerful AI known as STEM ever since. And for a while, it really looked like we might get it, not just as another film, but as an entire television series.

Well, now we're getting a fascinating peek behind the curtain. Legendary producer Jason Blum, the mastermind behind Blumhouse Productions and a key figure in getting Upgrade made, recently shared just how close we actually came to seeing that TV sequel. It wasn't just a pipe dream or a casual conversation; this was a fully developed concept, practically at the finish line. Blum, known for his frankness, made it clear: they were really close to making it happen. So close, in fact, that it felt like a sure thing for a moment there.

Imagine it: a whole series picking up where the film left off, delving deeper into Grey's new reality, exploring the implications of STEM’s control, and probably serving up a fresh batch of incredible, bone-crunching action. The original film left us with so many tantalizing questions and a protagonist utterly transformed, making it ripe for episodic storytelling. A television format would have given Whannell and his team the space to really explore that world and those characters in a way a single film simply couldn't.

So, what happened? Why did this seemingly perfect plan ultimately fizzle out? As it turns out, the biggest hurdle was the very genius who created it all: Leigh Whannell himself. Whannell, who wrote and directed Upgrade, became incredibly in-demand, particularly after the massive success of his next project, The Invisible Man. When you have a creator of his caliber, everyone wants a piece of his time. He was, understandably, busy. And in the fast-paced world of Hollywood, momentum is everything. When a key creative isn't available, projects can, unfortunately, stall and then, well, fade away.

Despite that near miss, Blum hasn't lost faith in the Upgrade universe. He expressed that enduring hope, suggesting that while the specific TV series might not have come to fruition, the potential for a sequel or another iteration of the story still exists. It’s one of those properties that just has too much going for it to stay dormant forever. Whether that means a new film down the line, perhaps with a different creative team if Whannell remains tied up, or a completely reimagined series, remains to be seen.

For now, we can rewatch Upgrade and appreciate the brilliant, contained story it tells, perhaps with a touch of wistfulness for what could have been. But knowing that the door isn't entirely closed for Grey Trace and STEM is, I think, a small comfort. Here’s hoping that one day, perhaps when the stars align just right, we'll get to journey back into that fascinating, terrifying world Whannell so masterfully crafted. Until then, the original film certainly holds up, doesn't it?