Netflix's Bird Box Barcelona - Everything You Need To Know

The unknown can take a tremendous toll on the mind. This isn't to say that simply trying new things out might melt someone's brain, but rather if one comes up against a creature that defies all logic and sense, then one might struggle to comprehend what exactly said creature is or wants. Netflix's 2018 film "Bird Box" showed off what might happen if humanity is suddenly faced with entities that can cause deep mental instability and self-destructive behavior if any human gazes upon them. So potent are these insanity-inducing beings that even watching them on surveillance cameras can have disastrous results.

"Bird Box" proved to be a massive success upon its release, which is probably best highlighted by the sheer amount of pop culture references and comedy sketches wholly inspired by the blindfolded escapades of the horror film — who doesn't remember the countless memes involving the star Sandra Bullock? Considering the popularity of "Bird Box," it was only a matter of time before a sequel would soon appear on the horizon, so what kind of information is currently available about the upcoming "Bird Box Barcelona?"

The original "Bird Box" was released on Netflix in December 2018, and as mentioned earlier, it proved to be an overwhelming success. As such, a sequel was announced in 2021, though information at that time was exceptionally sparse. Deadline reported production of this unnamed "Bird Box" sequel would begin later that year, but the publication did note that the movie would be set in Spanish. They also added that "Bird Box" was watched by 89 million households in the first month of its release, which was one of the biggest successes Netflix had at that point.

Luckily, the release date of "Bird Box Barcelona" is July 14, 2023. This is a little over two months after the trailer's release, so fans of horror and insanity-inducing creatures won't have to wait long to get an extra dose. It's also a warning to be prepared for the inevitable deluge of memes, jokes, and spoilers about the movie, because if the "Bird Box" sequel is anything like the original, Netflix will have another hit on its hands.

Much like its predecessor, "Bird Box Barcelona" is all about how Earth, society, and humanity in general was devastated after the appearance of the unknown and mysterious entities. As mentioned earlier, these beings cannot be viewed in any shape or form because simply spotting them can cause feelings of insanity and self-destruction. While some may see them and immediately try to harm themselves, others may see them and have their minds shattered. In the first "Bird Box," there are some who have seen the creatures live, yet their existence is marked by a frenzy to force others to do the same.

While "Bird Box" is set in the United States, "Bird Box Barcelona" is set in Europe, so audiences will get a chance to see how another corner of the world deals with these unknowable monsters and whether or not they come to the same conclusion as those in "Bird Box." However, as illustrated by the original film, sometimes people can be even more dangerous, and it will be interesting to see how "Bird Box Barcelona" brings something new to the table.

Furthermore, it will be interesting to see if the upcoming spin-off reveals more about the monsters and the magnitude of their destruction. The early teasers suggest that the creatures have been conquering the globe since we last saw them, indicating that this installment will be more grandiose than its predecessor.

The cast of "Bird Box Barcelona" features some truly impressive talent that can be recognized by many of their most recent efforts. Though many of the actors playing in "Bird Box Barcelona" are still ambiguous, a few of their roles are known. Georgina Campbell, Diego Calva, Mario Casas, Michelle Jenner, Alejandra Howard, Naila Schuberth, and Leonardo Sbaraglia are just some of the actors who are confirmed for "Bird Box Barcelona."

Audiences may recognize Campbell from her role in the horror movie "Barbarian" or an episode of "Black Mirror." Likewise, Calva is probably best recognized these days for the film "Babylon," while Casas has a whole slew of Spanish-speaking credits for "Three Steps Above Heaven" and "The Bar" among many others. In other words, there are some famous actors in the cast of "Bird Box Barcelona," and one can assume that they all speak Spanish since the events of this movie will require it. Many of the actors involved with "Bird Box Barcelona" only have credits for Spanish-language films, so this movie definitely has an international vibe.

As noted by Bloody Disgusting, the official synopsis reads, "After a mysterious force decimates the world's population by causing all who see it to take their lives, Sebastian and his young daughter Anna must navigate their own journey of survival through the desolate streets of Barcelona. But as they form an uneasy alliance with other survivors and make their way toward a safe haven, a threat more sinister than the unseen creatures grows."

The original "Bird Box" was directed by Susanne Bier and produced by Dylan Clark, Chris Morgan, and Clayton Townsend. However, it seems as if the person in the director's chair has changed for "Bird Box Barcelona," and instead, this new movie will be directed by David and Alex Pastor. "Bird Box" was based on the book of the same name by Josh Malerman, and it seems as if the Pastors and Malerman have writing credits for "Bird Box Barcelona." This means that this film will have input from the author of the source material, which should provide a potent asset on set. In addition, the Pastors are probably best known for their efforts in 2009's "Carriers" and 2015's "Self/less."

As reported by Collider, producer Clark said, "Our world has never been more interconnected. To explore the phenomenon that is 'Bird Box' with David and Alex Pastor following people surviving in Barcelona is a timely opportunity to not only entertain but also show how dependent we all are to each other." Producer Morgan also had some thoughts on "Bird Box Barcelona" and stated, "'Bird Box' became a worldwide phenomenon for being an intensely emotional story of a mother and her children fighting to survive a terrifying apocalypse. In our new chapter, our incredible filmmakers Alex and David Pastor are boldly expanding 'Bird Box 'in a globally-connected way that only Netflix can deliver."

In the teaser above, viewers can see it begins with several scenes from "Bird Box," involving news reports of the panic and erratic behavior sweeping across the globe. People can be seen fleeing the carnage or hurting themselves to the shock and horror of onlookers. From there, the trailer seamlessly blends into the news reports coming from Europe, and audiences are greeted by moments of self-destruction and harm. Crowds surge, police and military form ranks and a news report can be heard asking people to avoid visual contact with the unknown beings.

A series of rapid-fire scenes then flashes across the screen, and people can be seen blindfolded, as well as a reporter explaining that the behavior of the exposed are not isolated moments, and people reacting in all manner of ways — some are horrified, while others almost appear to be in a fugue state. This means that "Bird Box Barcelona" seems to be taking place in the initial aftermath of the bizarre appearance of the insanity-causing beings, so many people will probably suffer from disbelief and shock as the world seemingly collapses in an exceptionally short amount of time.

Furthermore, the first official trailer for "Bird Box Barcelona" reveals that there are humans who refuse to wear blindfolds as they're seemingly in awe of the monsters — and they want other people to join them. Could it be that they're in cahoots with the creatures? Additionally, the footage teases some truly disturbing scenes of mass chaos and destruction, so don't watch if you're easily spooked.

Of course, one can't watch "Bird Box Barcelona" without watching the movie that started it all. As mentioned earlier, "Bird Box" came out in 2018, dominating pop culture for a decent amount of time. Starring Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich, Danielle McDonald and Sarah Paulson, "Bird Box" focuses on Malorie Hayes (Bullock) and her two young children as they attempt to reach a sanctuary from the insanity-inducing monsters. In their travels, the Hayes family comes across allies and enemies, and it becomes immediately apparent that trust is a valuable commodity in this post-apocalyptic world.

While some of the post-apocalyptic genre may focus on man-made tragedies, zombies, or world-ending wars, "Bird Box" instead sees humanity tear itself apart, mainly because the creatures that stir such madness in people don't really attack or anything like that — their presence is all that is required for people to destroy themselves. Just like when "Bird Box" was first released, the movie is still available on Netflix, the only place one can watch "Bird Box" and "Bird Box Barcelona."

So, what will "Bird Box Barcelona" be rated? The first film was rated R upon its release, which makes perfect sense on account of the subject matter. IMDb notes that "Bird Box" earned this rating because of scenes of intense violence, suicide, bloody images, profanity, and sexual content. Considering that there are many moments of self-harm and mental instability, "Bird Box" was never meant for the youngest among us, and technically one should be considered an adult before watching the film.

Although "Bird Box Barcelona" has yet to receive any sort of rating when it comes to age appropriateness, it is probably safe to assume that this sequel will follow the exact same path as "Bird Box." Both movies deal with the same subject matter, so if anything, "Bird Box Barcelona" will probably be more intense than its predecessor, or at least on the same page. In other words, "Bird Box Barcelona" comes with some serious caveats when it comes to allowing children and young adults a chance to watch, mainly because there will be many instances of violence and horror. Not exactly something that should be watched before going to sleep, "Bird Box Barcelona" looks to expand further the story outlined in "Bird Box."

The first "Bird Box" movie is an adaptation of Josh Malerman's debut novel of the same name, which was released through Ecco Press in 2014. A sequel called "Malorie" was released courtesy of Del Rey Books in 2020, which follows the titular character (who was portrayed by Sandra Bullock in the Netflix film) and her two young children as they set out to find more survivors. However, the sequel novel doesn't appear to have informed "Bird Box Barcelona," nor are there currently any plans to adapt it.

As it stands, the Spanish-language spin-off looks like an original story from the minds of Alex Pastor and David Pastor. Currently, it remains to be seen if Walerman had any input over the creative direction of "Bird Box Barcelona," but the spin-off wouldn't exist without his core ideas laying the groundwork. 

That said, perhaps seeing "Bird Box Barcelona" on Netflix will inspire the author to write more stories set in this world, which might go on to inspire their own movies someday. In an interview with ReadMoreCO, Walerman said that the success of the first film coupled with seeing Bullock bring Malorie to life inspired him to return to the "Bird Box" universe with his writing, so who knows what will happen if the Barcelonian spin-off is a success?

"Bird Box Barcelona" isn't a direct sequel to the 2018 film, but it is set in the same world as the Sandra Bullock-starring thriller. Additionally, it seems that some of the masterminds behind the franchise want to keep expanding this world on the screen, as well as exploring different regions that have been affected by the monster invasion in the story.

While the franchise's producers haven't outright confirmed plans for more "Bird Box" installments yet, they have certainly teased more entries down the line. "Malorie's (Bullock) journey was just the first chapter of this global, apocalyptic event," producer Chris Morgan told Entertainment Weekly. "As we were developing the original film, we often discussed what would be happening at the same time in different countries around the world." Making more movies set in different corners of the globe is a good way to find out the answers to such questions.

Furthermore, Netflix has a history of milking franchises — as evidenced by "The Witcher: Blood Origin" and "Berlin," a "Money Heist" spin-off — so we shouldn't rule out the possibility of more installments of this one. The premise of "Bird Box" certainly lends itself to franchise storytelling, and there are many horror fans out there who'd probably love to see more sequels and spin-offs come to fruition.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.