America Studios' new sequel 'Afghanistan 17' panned by critics
HOLLYWOOD — The new trailer for Afghanistan 17: Back to Kandahar, the latest installment of America Studios long-running Afghan war franchise, has been met with disapproval by many critics.
Studio officials are reportedly concerned that the public may have grown weary of the once-popular campaign series, especially following generally negative critical reception of 2010’s much-hyped Afghanistan 9: Helmand Boogalo.
“The original benefited from superb direction and sophisticated writing,” said James Russell, a senior analyst at Rand who focuses on interminable Central Asian conflicts, referring to the 1982 surprise hit Afghanistan: Evil Empire.
“Taking the franchise in a more action-oriented direction definitely paid off with Afghanistan II: The Revenge,” he explained, recalling 2001’s blockbuster hit. However, Russell cited a decline in public appetite for counterinsurgency dramas as well as an almost entirely fresh cast for the upcoming fourth installment.
Russell was dismissive of the tr…
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Duffel Blog to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.