Kung Fury perfectly captured the wonder and silliness of 80s action cinema. The film began as a simple Kickstarter campaign, then became a cult classic and showcased David Sandberg‘s various talents. We’ve been waiting for a sequel since the original short film debuted ten years ago, but we haven’t had much news in the decade since its release.

Kung Fury should’ve skyrocketed Sandberg into the mainstream. As the star, director, writer, and producer of the film, he displayed a unique talent and ability to operate in a capacity similar to global action stars like Tom Cruise. However, we haven’t seen any new output from him since. Kung Fury 2 has been languishing in development hell. It got so bad that Sandberg lost his passion for filmmaking. However, after some recent updates, there must still be a future for Kung Fury 2. The only real question is – have they waited too long?

Why Was ‘Kung Fury’ a Big Deal?

Kung Fury was a perfect mix of genres. Think Miami Vice meets Police Story with a big dash of Big Trouble in Little China. The short film blended 80s crime thrillers with classic Kung Fu action and has no shortage of self-awareness. The plot revolved around hotshot Miami detective Kung Fury, who gains superhuman abilities before traveling back in time to fight an alternate version of Adolf Hitler known as Kung Führer. While it might sound rather wild, Kung Fury is parodying the 80s, but it’s also a love letter to that era of Hollywood. Kung Fury’s 80s-inspired soundtrack blew up alongside the movie, with the hit song ‘True Survivor’ featuring David Hasselhoff. Sandberg had a distinct vision and executed it perfectly despite the many production limitations of independently producing a film without studio backing.

Sandberg announced a feature-length sequel shortly after the first film’s success. Kung Fury attracted major Hollywood stars like Michael Fassbender and Arnold Schwarzenegger, the latter a perfect fit for a movie that pays homage to the 80s. A recent leak revealed a sizzle reel featuring Arnold suited up with an extravagant-looking shotgun and Fassbender fitted in a Mad Max-esque outfit with the quintessential ’80s mullet and mustache. The film has a great cast, a built-in cult following, and firm foundations, so why is it taking so long to come out?

A Bitter Legal Battle Delayed the Sequel for 10 Years

After 10 years, nothing has materialized. The recently leaked sizzle reel sparked an online discussion about the film, prompting a response from Sandberg, who explained the tumultuous process of finishing Kung Fury 2. Sandberg clarified that he had shot the entire movie. Production wrapped in 2019, but the post-production stalled the process. Sandberg told Variety, “Once we started getting to VFX, things started to slow down… it turned out that our Chinese financier had stopped all payments.” A painfully slow legal battle ensued with the Creasun production company, ending with the company eventually agreeing to pay what they promised. Unfortunately, the company still didn’t follow through. The company also tried to fabricate claims that the film producers had stolen the money, and Sanderg had to endure an auditing process to prove them wrong. Creasun was difficult at every turn, making it an extremely difficult production.

Sandberg discussed how the situation made him disillusioned with filmmaking. He fell into depression and “just gave up” for a long time. Nevertheless, after an arduous legal battle that has finally resolved, he reaffirmed his commitment to finishing the film and hasn’t given up hope. Sandberg claimed he needs roughly another $10 million to finish the VFX. “One day, for sure, it will get released. But we have to power through it.” Seeing an independent filmmaker power through a corporation trying to tank his movie and keep fighting for it is promising. It’s been a long wait, with more than a decade between releases.

The 80s Trend Is Over, but ‘Kung Fury’ Could Still Succeed in 2025

Kung Fury generated a massive amount of online hype. It became an internet sensation and desperately needed to ride that hype train to garner a bigger audience for its sequel. While the film still has a minor cult following in 2025, it’s much smaller than it would’ve been in the late 2010s. More importantly, the original movie was released at the height of cinema’s obsession with 80s nostalgia. Since 2016, Hollywood has released an array of 80s-inspired films and shows like IT, Stranger Things, Ready Player One, Bumblebee, Glow, Cobra Kai, and a slew of 80s legacy sequels that flooded the market.

Nevertheless, the fan response to Kung Fury 2’s leaked sizzle proves an enduring fan base is eager to see the sequel. In the streaming age, Kung Fury 2 could succeed on a big streaming platform like Netflix, giving it a bigger platform that attracts more audiences than it would with a cinematic release. There’s also a considerable amount of star power behind the film. Fassbender is an A-list actor and a veteran of the industry.

Schwarzenegger would also attract an older audience demographic who were around when these massive 80s hits were originally in theaters, and a film that pays homage to them in such a unique way could strike a chord with multiple target audiences. Kung Fury isn’t your average 80s nostalgia bait, it’s a quirky, stylized film with a distinct vision that doesn’t try to chase trends. While it may not reach the same audience as it may have done in 2019, Kung Fury 2 will undoubtedly find its audience in today’s industry.

Sandberg has defied all odds, fighting against huge production companies, operating in crucial roles in front of and behind the camera, and maintaining a cult following 10 years later. Kung Fury 2 simply just releasing would be a triumph in and of itself.

Kung Fury is available to watch on YouTube

via Collider