Moviestore/Shutterstock A sequel to the 1995 filmCrimson Tideis in the works Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is hopeful Denzel Washington will return The news of the sequel comes four months after one of its stars, Gene Hackman, died at 95 in February A sequel to the 1995 filmCrimson Tideis in the works, with original producer Jerry Bruckheimer hoping for starDenzel Washingtonto return. Thirty years ago, the submarine action thriller film took viewers to new depths with a conflict between two U.S.nuclear missile submarine officers – Commanding Officer Captain Franklin "Frank" Ramsey (Gene Hackman) and Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander Ronald "Ron" Hunter (Washington). "We have a really good director and writer talking to the navy right now about what's going on under the water," Bruckheimer teased onThe Rich Eisman Showon Monday, June 30. "If we give him a good script, I think he'd do it," Bruckheimer said of Washington, 70, returning to the franchise. A source confirmed toVarietythat the Academy Award winner's participation in the sequel is script-dependent at this time, and the sequel is still in early development. The news of the sequel comes four months afterHackman died at 95in February. The bodies of the actor and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found at their home in Santa Fe Summit on Feb. 26. A spokesperson for the Santa Fe County Sheriff's office told PEOPLE at the time that deputies were dispatched to a home in Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Hackman, Arakawa and one dog were found dead. Hollywood Pictures/Getty The actor's cause of death was ultimately revealed to be a combination of severe heart disease, high blood pressure andadvanced Alzheimer's disease, and was likely alone in the homewith his dead wife for days. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. His wife Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is caused by hantavirus. Hantavirus is transmitted to humans via rodent urine, saliva and droppings. Her last outward communication, via email, appeared to occur on Feb. 11, said Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza at the time. Tony Scott, the original director ofCrimson Tide, died in 2012 at 68, and Robert Towne, one of its writers, died in 2024 at 89. PEOPLE has reached out to Disney, which produced the originalCrimson Tide,for comment. Read the original article onPeople
