Code 8 sequel–Amell cousins resurrect sci-fi/superpowers tale

Code 8 is an interesting science fiction movie project. We reviewed the movie here at borg back in 2020, and noted it as “an acceptable sci-fi/superhero B-movie,” “ambitious,” with “overall low production levels, yet at points it offers some quality sci-fi tech via android cops and superpowered humans.” We pointed out the key appeal of the movie was rising star Robbie Amell, who made his mark in the DC Comics, Resident Evil, and Babysitter franchises. Amell played 26-year-old Connor Reed, one of a rare breed of superpowered humans in a near-present day alternate Earth, with the story set in the fictional Lincoln City, some 90 years into a world of X-Men-inspired superhumans, all with varying types of powers. Connor is a Class-5 “electric” meaning he can wield incredible jolts of power to use as a carpenter or to defeat high-tech security in a heist taking the form of android cops.

Why is the project interesting? Movies like this typically don’t get funding to make a sequel. With Netflix’s release of a trailer for a sequel, Code 8: Part II, it looks four years later like more of the same, which still could be a good thing. Robbie Amell is joined again by cousin Stephen Amell, CW’s DC Comics headliner Green Arrow. It looks a lot like The New Mutants movie, plus some well-done robot cops and dogbots. Check out this trailer for Code 8: Part II:

The first movie began back in 2016 as a short film project by Canadian cousins Stephen Amell and Robbie Amell. The project then went on to accumulate nearly $3.5 million of crowd-funding to make the first feature length film, from first time writer-director Jeff Chan. Chan is back for the sequel. Another big draw for the first movie was an appearance by The Fast and the Furious regular Sung Kang as a cop, but unfortunately he’s not listed as returning for the sequel. New actors in the sequel include Sirena Gulamgaus as the young co-star Pav, plus Altair Vincent, Alex Mallari Jr., Moe Jeudy-Lamour, Aaron Abrams, and Jean Yoon.

Look for class struggle again as a key theme, similar to District 9 and Elysium, with the discrimination beats of AlienNation and Bright, and the superpowers with the vibe of The New Mutants and Brightburn (minus the horror).