Circle, released in 2015, is a low-budget thriller with compelling assumptions. Acquired by Netflix shortly after its debut, it gained cult status and was a solid pick every time the debate about the streaming service's most underrated movies began

Surprisingly, Variety reports that "Circle" is set to receive a sequel almost 10 years later. My initial reaction was one of skepticism, as I'm not entirely sure the original leaves much room for further expansion, but at least producers Brent Stiefel and Michael Nardelli (who also starred in the film as Eric) are back on board for this follow-up. 

The "circle" begins with 50 strangers waking up in a dark room arranged in the formation of a circle. If they move from their designated place, they are killed instantly. And even if they stand completely, 1 of them is randomly killed every 2 minutes. But they can choose who will be eliminated by group voting for the next victim. This leads to so many tricky decisions and moral arguments that each survivor makes a case for why they should remain in the game. 

That's a pretty good premise for a psychological thriller, and "Circle" definitely squeezes a big mileage out of its central hook. In addition, a low budget benefits the film, as the setting of a single location in a dark room adds a claustrophobic element to the mix. Directors Aaron Han and Mario Misione cite "12 Angry Men" as their inspiration, and it comes out in a dialogue-heavy final product. It's a Netflix movie that should absolutely be added to your watchlist if you haven't seen it yet. 

We don't know much about sequels at this stage. It's called a "circle" (presumably suggesting that it features multiple groups trapped in a deadly game), and the official synopsis states that "After being pawn in a cruel game of psychological warfare, survivors of aggression face a new threat."It was written by Devon Gray and will go into production later this year. 

As a fan of the original, I'm certainly intrigued by the news of the sequel after all this time. But I'm not entirely sure there's much more that can be done with the rather restrictive core premise of "Circle". Of course, a sequel can take things in a very different direction, but if it does, it may not feel connected to the original. In any case, the "circle" has certainly caught my attention and is waiting for further news before making any conclusions. 

"Circle" is currently streaming on Netflix, so watch it before this sequel, which will be released in the future (no release date information yet). And if you need more Netflix recommendations, check out our summary of new movies and shows to watch this week.