20th Century Fox (now under Disney) owns the rights. Disney has famously pivoted away from R-rated or even PG-13 "crude" comedies of the 90s. While Down Periscope is PG-13, its humor is often blue-collar and politically incorrect. In an era of sensitivity readers and sanitized blockbusters, a studio executive might view a sequel as a reputation risk.
Lake and Dodge share a quiet moment on the dock. She kisses his cheek. Her daughter rolls her eyes but smiles. down periscope sequel
As of late 2025, Kelsey Grammer, who played the unorthodox Lieutenant Commander Tom Dodge, has publicly expressed a strong interest in a sequel. Grammer revealed he has a specific "idea" for where the story could go, noting that he would love to revisit the character despite the original film's modest box office performance and poor critical reception at the time of its release. The Original Legacy 20th Century Fox (now under Disney) owns the rights
While a sequel to the 1996 cult comedy has never been officially produced, the most exciting "feature" or update regarding one is that lead star Kelsey Grammer In an era of sensitivity readers and sanitized
When Down Periscope premiered in March 1996, mainstream critics were not kind. The film holds an 11% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes . It grossed a quiet $37.5 million against a $31 million production budget.
Volkov, in a military prison, is offered a deal by a mysterious figure (maybe a callback to the original Admiral from the first film). “We have another wargame coming up. And we need someone unpredictable.” Volkov smiles. Cue up-tempo Russian folk music.