A Classic Crime Movie Is Finally Getting A Sequel – As An HBO Series

"City of God" is so much more than just Brazil's answer to "GoodFellas," (though they do share similarities, starting with being inspired by the lives of real people). One of the most acclaimed Brazilian films of all time, Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund's 2001 masterpiece is a portrait of Rio de Janeiro and its reality, the ugly and the beautiful sides of it. Set in the favelas of Rio in the '70s, the film centers on two men, each following a different path they say is forced on them by their Dickensian circumstances. One becomes a photographer documenting the drug-related violence that is rapidly increasing in the neighborhood, while the other becomes an ambitious drug dealer climbing the ladder. 

In addition to gathering universal acclaim for its acting, cinematography, writing and portrayal of the favelas, "City of God" (named after the neighborhood of the same name, Cidade de Deus) also got four nominations at the Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director. Now, over 20 years after the release of the original, Max has announced a sequel series.

Titled "City of God: The Fight Rages On," the upcoming six-episode HBO series is set to premiere in August 2024 on Max and HBO. The show is set two decades after the events of the original film and will continue to adapt the works of Paulo Lins, picking up the story of photographer Buscapé. The show will also include scenes from the film, in addition to brand-new flashbacks that will "reconstruct the protagonists' memories."

"City of God: The Fight Rages On" will feature the return of many cast members from the original film, including Alexandre Rodrigues, Thiago Martins, Roberta Rodrigues, Sabrina Rosa, Kiko Marques, and Edson Oliveira. Much like the original film, "The Fight Rages On" will also feature newcomer actors from different neighborhoods across Rio de Janeiro. "City of God" included many actors who were residents of the City of God favela itself, as well as several first-time performers.

It's interesting that the press release from Max specifies that the series will still adapt Paulo Lins' works. The original film, written by Bráulio Mantovani, is based on Lins' 1997 book of the same name, the plot of which loosely draws from real people and events. Even though Lins did not pen a direct sequel to "City of God," he still wrote other books with the same setting and similar themes. That should make things easier for the sequel series, allowing it to borrow from Lins' other works so as to keep things feeling somewhat consistent with the world of the original "City of God."

Max has yet to set a specific release date for "City of God: The Fight Rages On," although, again, it will arrive at some point in August of this year. Its synopsis reads as follows:

In the original film, the Brazilian saying "if you run, the beast will catch you; if you stay, it will eat you" portrayed the City of God as an inescapable place. In the series, the community, plagued by disputes between drug dealers, police, and militiamen, presents a perspective of collective resistance, focusing on the lives of its residents.