Over ten years after Edgar Rice Burroughs’ iconic hero was first presented to the public in John Carter (2012), there is increasing conjecture that a follow-up, tentatively dubbed John Carter 2: Return to Barsoom, may be in the works. Even if Disney’s first movie didn’t do well at the box office, its cult following over the years has made people want to see Mars again (Barsoom).

Rumors suggest that Taylor Kitsch could reprise his role as John Carter, the Civil War veteran turned interplanetary warrior. Despite the original film’s commercial struggles, Kitsch has expressed enthusiasm for the character in past interviews, leaving the door open for a potential return.

Insiders speculate that Return to Barsoom may adapt Burroughs’ second novel, The Gods of Mars, which sees Carter return to Mars after a decade on Earth. In the story, he discovers new enemies, explores the terrifying Valley Dor, and reunites with his love, Dejah Thoris. Given Hollywood’s fascination with multiverses and expansive world-building, a continuation of Carter’s adventures could align with modern sci-fi trends.