# A sequel to The Professional - I've got a bad feeling about this **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 30, 2001, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213 "2001-11-30T23:05:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/1 "2001-11-30T23:05:29Z")
In [this report](http://us.imdb.com/PeopleNews/#7), it looks like Natalie Portman may star in a sequel to [Leon.](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0110413) Do you think this is a good idea? I really enjoyed the original, but I don’t know if a sequel is warranted. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/2 "2001-11-30T23:13:06Z")
Only if Jean Reno is in it. And then, if they do that, they should call it off because if they can figure out how to get Reno into the storyline it is probably too stupid to consider. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/3 "2001-11-30T23:13:14Z")
Oh dear sweet Lord… What made it a great film was Jean Reno, not Natalie Portman! Give me a break. I really like Luc Besson, but I might not if this thing goes through. Let’s just pray that little miss Amidala is just too busy or important or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/4 "2001-11-30T23:19:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EJsGirl \* > **What made it a great film was Jean Reno, not Natalie Portman! Give me a break.** Actually, I disagree. What separated _Léon_ from any other assassin/action movie was Mathilda, and Portman’s incredible portrayal of her. I’m intrigued about this sequel. But, I’m more interested in the _other_ sequel she has coming out next summer. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/5 "2001-11-30T23:23:52Z")
Well, I’ve got mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, _The Professional_ (I never saw the version called _Leon_) was a great movie. A sequel would almost certainly not measure up. On the other hand…Natalie Portman: YUM! Oh, and on preview: I agree with **Montfort**. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/6 "2001-11-30T23:25:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Do you think this is a good idea? Well, Luc Besson is a wildly uneven director, and since Jean Reno (one of my favorite actors) was bumped off at the end of _Leon_ and thus is unlikely to appear, then, er, no. ---
**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/7 "2001-12-01T00:14:42Z")
They could always have some flashback scenes with Reno. I’d watch it, I think Luc Besson makes excellent films. Ok so I’ve only seen the two movies that have Jean Reno in them, so maybe a Luc Besson movie without Reno would be all bad. Hmmm… that didn’t help at all did it? ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/8 "2001-12-01T00:33:38Z")
In the spirit of her OTHER sequel - couldn’t Reno appear as a blue floating spirit guide? ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/9 "2001-12-01T00:54:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lawoot \* > \*\*In the spirit of her OTHER sequel - couldn’t Reno appear as a blue floating spirit guide? \*\* Yeah, but that would mean Gary Oldman’s Portman’s dad. Hmm… ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/10 "2001-12-01T00:59:23Z")
Portman’s legal by now, right? ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/11 "2001-12-01T01:11:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by c\_goat \* > \*\*They could always have some flashback scenes with Reno. > > I’d watch it, I think Luc Besson makes excellent films. > > Ok so I’ve only seen the two movies that have Jean Reno in them, so maybe a Luc Besson movie without Reno would be all bad. > > Hmmm… that didn’t help at all did it? \*\* Try “Kiss of the Dragon”. Besson produced, not directed, but there are some, um, interesting parallels to “Leon” (BTW, the uncut international version is the one to see). For example, in “Leon”, the evil cop is holding a little girl hostage in police headquarters. Leon’s plan to get her out? Walk in the front door and take her by force. Now, pay close attention, and see if you can spot the parallel: In “Kiss of the Dragon”, the evil cop is holding a little girl hostage in the police station. Jet Li’s plan to get her out? Walk in the front door and take her by force. Subtle, huh. “Kiss of the Dragon” also has things lifted from “Nikita”. ---
**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/12 "2001-12-01T01:15:24Z")
Don’t you even TRY comparing Kiss of the Dragon to The Professional. Yes, yes, there’s plot similarities, but The Professional was a well-acted, sensitive movie with great action scenes. Kiss of the Dragon was so crappily written that we all started laughing right in the theater, and the characters were paper-thin. But it had Jet Li in it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/13 "2001-12-01T01:20:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > \*\*Portman’s legal by now, right? \*\* Yeah, she can do nude scenes, but its probably unlikely as it wouldn’t sit too well with the image Lucas wants for his film (and she’s probably got one more to do). Still, it could be a good film, then again, it might blow dead bears. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/14 "2001-12-01T01:49:06Z")
Maybe it will be a _prequel_, and we’ll all have to believe that Melinda is really ten years old instead of twelve. 😃 Or Leon could have a twin brother. An eeeeeeevil twin. BTW, how accurate is IMDB’s “people news” site linked in the OP? Is Kim Basinger really dating Eminem? ---
**Author:** ![Spudo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Spudo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spudo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/15 "2001-12-01T01:56:55Z")
I don’t think it would work. Making a sequel to a movie like this can only be bad. The movie was made by the chemistry between Jean Reno and Natalie Portman, and since Leon is dead, well, that makes it hard for Jean Reno to be in it. And anyway, it always struck me as one of those movies that is meant to stand by itself, with no others like it, a sequel would alienate the first one in my eyes. And in the end, clearly, it’s only my eyes that matter 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/16 "2001-12-01T02:10:30Z")
“Kiss of the Dragon” definitely comes up wanting in comparison to “Leon”. You’ll get no argument from me there. But it is a pretty good action flick, and has some nice set pieces and a good moment or two. Take the “Bullies picking on the badass unaware that they’re hopelessly outclassed” moment. Fonda’s pimp beats her up, spilling into Li’s shop in the process. Li says something like “I don’t like to tell anybody their business, but I’d appreciate it if you don’t do _that_ (pauses half a beat) again.” Just before kicking butt. BTW, count me also in as being against the idea, but dang it, movie producers seldom see the wisdom in doing things the way I want them done. ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2001, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-sequel-to-the-professional-ive-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this/96213/17 "2001-12-01T05:28:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > > \*\*Portman’s legal by now, right? \*\* > > Yeah, she can do nude scenes, but its probably unlikely as it wouldn’t sit too well with the image Lucas wants for his film (and she’s probably got one more to do).\*\* That hasn’t stopped Ewan McGregor from showing his lightsaber in every movie he can.