Run All Night

Run All Night 2: A Legacy Continued in Blood and Redemption

When Run All Night hit theaters in 2015, it delivered a gritty, emotionally-charged action thriller that stood out in Liam Neeson’s post-Taken filmography. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, the film combined kinetic gunplay with heartfelt drama, centering on a tormented hitman trying to protect his son from the criminal world he once served. With Neeson’s character, Jimmy Conlon, sacrificing himself to save his son, many believed the story had reached its natural end. However, in today’s Hollywood, where gritty legacy sequels are thriving, Run All Night 2 remains an intriguing possibility.

A sequel would likely shift the focus to Mike Conlon (Joel Kinnaman), Jimmy’s estranged son, who now bears the scars of his father's violent past. In Run All Night, Mike was a man caught between worlds—a working-class family man and the reluctant heir to a life of crime. In Run All Night 2, he could become the centerpiece of a new story about legacy, vengeance, and the choice to break or continue the cycle.

The story could open years after Jimmy’s death. Mike, now living under a new identity and working to provide a better life for his family, is pulled back into danger when someone from Jimmy’s past resurfaces—perhaps a vengeful associate, a forgotten rival, or even a corrupt NYPD officer still tied to the events of the first film. This time, Mike must fight not just for survival, but to protect his own son—repeating the painful decisions his father once faced.

What would set Run All Night 2 apart from other revenge sequels is its emotional core. Mike never forgave his father fully, but he saw the man he could’ve been if life had gone differently. The film could explore Mike's internal conflict as he begins to resemble the father he swore he’d never become. There’s rich thematic ground in examining inherited trauma, fatherhood, and the cost of redemption.

Tonally, the sequel would benefit from retaining the grounded, neo-noir atmosphere of the original. Nighttime cityscapes, practical stunts, and tight hand-to-hand combat sequences would maintain the visual signature that made the first film so intense. The director’s chair could return to Jaume Collet-Serra—or take a fresh direction under someone like David Leitch or Antoine Fuqua, filmmakers known for balancing grit with emotion.

Casting could include a mix of returning and new faces. Joel Kinnaman has the physicality and dramatic weight to lead the sequel. Supporting roles might introduce characters tied to both sides of Jimmy’s past—former allies turned enemies, or even someone who wants to honor Jimmy’s sacrifice by helping Mike survive.

Ultimately, Run All Night 2 wouldn't just be another action film—it would be a reflection on legacy. Just as the original asked whether a killer could earn redemption in one night, the sequel could ask if a son can escape the sins of his father. In a genre often built on repetition, this film could offer something rare: an action sequel with genuine heart.