Blackstar: The Pale King - Part 1

Blackstar: The Pale King is the reported title of an upcoming American superhero film and sequel to Blackstar (2028), based on characters from the Blackstar comic-book series created by Daniel Mercer. The film is being developed by Titan Forge Studios, with Mara Venn attached to direct and Nathan Cole writing the screenplay. Callum Reid is expected to reprise his role as Adrian Vale / Blackstar.

On March 6, 2029, industry reports stated that the film was being developed under the title Blackstar: The Pale King. The title had not been officially announced by Titan Forge Studios and remained subject to change. The reports renewed speculation that the Pale King, a recurring antagonist from the comics whose possible involvement in a sequel had been rumoured since 2026, would feature prominently in the film.

Development of a sequel began during post-production on the first film. Titan Forge officially confirmed the project in August 2028, when Venn was announced as director following the departure of Evan Rourke. The sequel's development accelerated following the commercial success of Blackstar, which grossed $938.7 million worldwide against a reported net production budget of $185 million. A theatrical release in 2031 has been reported as an internal target, although Titan Forge has not announced a release date.

Development

Reports of a potential sequel to Blackstar first emerged in December 2026, before principal photography on the first film had begun. At the time, sources claimed that Titan Forge Studios had held preliminary discussions concerning possible continuations of Adrian Vale's story, including the potential use of the Pale King.

Titan Forge denied in January 2027 that a sequel was in development. Rourke, who directed and co-wrote the first film, similarly said that his priority was completing Blackstar and rejected reports that a film involving the Pale King had already been developed.

During post-production on Blackstar, Titan Forge began more substantial discussions about continuing the property. According to reports published in August 2028, the studio wanted to establish a sequel and production schedule before the first film's theatrical release, while Rourke was unwilling to immediately commit to directing another instalment.

Rourke and Titan Forge also disagreed over the proposed scope of the sequel. Rourke later said that his preferred continuation would have focused more narrowly on Adrian following the events of the first film, whereas Titan Forge wanted to expand the story beyond Vesper and explore additional characters and aspects of the Void.

On August 28, 2028, Titan Forge officially announced that a sequel had entered early development. Mara Venn, known for the science-fiction thriller Silent Vector (2025) and psychological horror film The House Beneath (2027), was hired to direct. Nathan Cole, who co-wrote Blackstar with Rourke, remained involved as screenwriter. Reid was also confirmed to be attached to reprise his role as Adrian Vale / Blackstar.

Venn said that she did not intend to imitate Rourke's direction and instead wanted to explore the consequences of Adrian's experiences in the first film. Rourke subsequently revealed that Venn had contacted him before her appointment was publicly announced. He encouraged her to develop her own interpretation of the series and declined to participate in the sequel as a producer, consultant or writer.

Development accelerated following the release of Blackstar in October 2028. The film grossed $938.7 million worldwide against a reported net production budget of $185 million and received generally positive reviews, increasing Titan Forge's confidence in continuing the property.

By January 2029, Venn and Cole remained in development on the screenplay, while Reid remained contractually attached to return. A 2031 theatrical release was reported as Titan Forge's internal target, although no release date had been announced.

Title

On March 6, 2029, industry insider Daniel Richton reported that the sequel was being developed under the title Blackstar: The Pale King. Richton said that the title appeared on recent documentation associated with Titan Forge's production slate rather than older development material.

A second source subsequently reported that the same title had been used during discussions with prospective production department heads. According to the reports, The Pale King was being used as the film's production title rather than as a codename.

Richton had previously reported Rebecca Ferguson's involvement in the first film before her casting was officially announced and had reported preliminary sequel discussions before Titan Forge publicly confirmed the project. Another source supporting the title report had previously reported the studio's interest in Venn before her appointment was announced.

Titan Forge did not comment on the report, and the title remained unofficial. No logo or other promotional material using The Pale King had been publicly released as of March 2029.

Writing

Details of the film's story have not been officially disclosed. Reports following Venn's appointment indicated that Titan Forge intended the sequel to expand beyond Vesper and further explore the mythology surrounding the Void.

The reported title led to speculation that the sequel would centre on the Pale King, a recurring antagonist from Mercer's comics. The character had previously been connected to reports concerning potential sequels during development of the first film.

In the comics, the Pale King first appeared in Blackstar #47 and subsequently became one of Blackstar's recurring adversaries. The character is associated with the Void, although different storylines provide conflicting accounts of his origin and nature. He has variously been depicted as a ruler or prisoner of the Void, while other stories suggest that "Pale King" is a title held by multiple entities rather than the name of a single individual.

Sources familiar with early development described Venn's approach as more surreal and psychological than the first film and less geographically confined to Vesper. The sequel is also reportedly expected to contain substantially more material set within the Void.

Connection to Blackstar

The ending and post-credits scene of Blackstar established several unresolved storylines that could be continued in the sequel.

In the post-credits scene, the Warden, portrayed by Hugh Jackman, observes a fracture within the Void after Adrian has returned to Vesper. A pale light emerges from beyond the fracture and an unidentified entity states that Adrian "opened the way". The Warden responds that Adrian had closed it "for him", before an elongated hand appears against the opposite side of the fracture.

Following the film's release, viewers familiar with the comics speculated that the entity was the Pale King. Rourke and Titan Forge declined to identify it.

Rourke later confirmed that the post-credits sequence was conceived by him and Cole during production of the first film, before Titan Forge formally commissioned the sequel. He said that he personally filmed the sequence and rejected claims that it had been added by the studio after sequel development began.

The reported sequel title subsequently increased speculation that the sequence was intended to depict the Pale King. Titan Forge had not confirmed the identity of the entity as of March 2029.

Casting

Callum Reid is expected to reprise his role as Adrian Vale / Blackstar. Reid signed a multi-film agreement when he joined the first film and remained attached to the sequel following Rourke's departure.

No other returning cast members had been officially announced as of March 2029.

Potential returning cast

Ryan Gosling's possible return as Nathaniel Grey has been the subject of speculation following the first film. Grey survives the events of Blackstar, while the film leaves his identity and connection to the Void largely unexplained.

In the film, Evelyn Voss recognises Grey despite believing his presence to be impossible, and several sequences depict unexplained phenomena involving the character, including his reflection moving independently of him. Rourke subsequently confirmed that the latter effect was intentional but declined to explain its significance.

Grey's final scene also depicts him responding to a statement that the Vesper breach has been closed by specifying that only "this one" had been closed. Following reports of the sequel's title, some viewers speculated that Grey could be connected to the Pale King. Neither Titan Forge nor Venn has commented on the theory, and Gosling has not been confirmed to return.

Jackman's potential return as the Warden has also been reported. The character is directly involved in the post-credits scene and possesses knowledge concerning Adrian, the Black Fall and the Void. Reports have stated that discussions have taken place for Jackman to return in a larger role than his approximately 12–15 minutes of screen time in the first film, although no agreement has been publicly announced.

Daisy Edgar-Jones has similarly not been confirmed to reprise her role as Mara Vale. The character's connection to the Void remains unresolved following the events of the first film.

Pre-production

In March 2029, reports stated that Titan Forge was considering a larger production for the sequel than for Blackstar. The first film had a reported net production budget of approximately $185 million, with gross production expenditure exceeding $220 million before incentives.

Preliminary estimates reportedly placed the sequel's potential net production budget between $200 million and $220 million, depending on the completed screenplay. The increased expenditure was attributed in part to plans for additional environments depicting the Void and an expanded scope beyond Vesper.

The budget had not been officially approved or announced by Titan Forge as of March 2029.

Casting discussions were expected to intensify later in 2029, while Venn and Cole continued developing the screenplay. Principal photography was not expected to begin imminently.

Release

Titan Forge has not announced a release date for the sequel.

Industry reports have consistently identified 2031 as the studio's intended release year. The reported title appeared in documentation associated with Titan Forge's 2031 production slate, providing additional support for the previously reported target.

A 2031 release would place approximately three years between Blackstar and its sequel. No specific release month or theatrical date had been reported as of March 2029.