Fans of the Fletch franchise might want to comfort themselves with a hearty steak sandwich, as recent developments bring disappointing news about the series. Greg Mottola, who directed the 2022 film Confess, Fletch, shared on social media that plans for a sequel have been scrapped.
The follow-up, which was meant to continue Jon Hamm’s portrayal of Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher, has been halted due to a change in leadership at Miramax. Mottola’s reboot reintroduced the character from Gregory Mcdonald’s novels, originally brought to life by Chevy Chase in the 1980s.
The news came after film critic Bilge Ebiri suggested more Fletch films. Mottola revealed that the sequel project was derailed when Miramax’s new head decided against it. He had already been working on a sequel based on Mcdonald’s Fletch’s Fortune, which would have furthered Fletch’s journalistic escapades. Mottola, known for Superbad, expressed disappointment, citing that the change in Miramax’s leadership was a key factor in the project’s cancellation.
Mottola criticized the film’s marketing strategy, noting that it was briefly released in theaters with minimal promotion before moving to Showtime, which he felt undercut its potential. Despite earlier opportunities to pitch the sequel elsewhere, that window has now closed.
Jon Hamm, who had shown interest in reprising his role, noted the film’s underwhelming box office performance but remained hopeful for future adaptations of the character’s adventures. The sequel was intended to follow Fletch as he navigated a murder accusation and sought missing artwork, with a script ready and several books available for adaptation.