Could Goonies 2 Film In Astoria Again? Fans Weigh In
- 01. Current production status
- 02. Astoria's historical connection to The Goonies
- 03. What "signals" point to Astoria for Goonies 2?
- 04. Why Astoria makes economic and narrative sense
- 05. What could still prevent filming in Astoria?
- 06. What locals and fans should watch for
- 07. Timeline and realistic expectations
- 08. Illustrative production-location scenarios
- 09. Practical checklist for fans and locals
- 10. Step-by-step timeline for monitoring progress
- 11. Final takeaway for the Astoria question
As of early 2026, there is no official confirmation that Goonies 2 will film in Astoria, Oregon, but both the studio and the local community expect the sequel to return to Astoria if and when full-scale production begins.
Current production status
The production status of Goonies 2 is listed by major tracking outlets as "Pre-Production," with script work and key hiring underway as of March 2025. Warner Bros. and Amblin Entertainment are shepherding the project, with producer Steven Spielberg and screenwriter Chris Columbus attached, while Potsy Ponciroli is drafting the script under their supervision.
By August 2025, Ponciroli reported that the second draft was roughly "95% done," indicating that the team is moving toward a shoot-ready script approval phase rather than pre-production limbo. No concrete start date for filming has been announced, and a director has not yet been formally named, which keeps the entire production timeline in flux.
Astoria's historical connection to The Goonies
In the original 1985 film, the Goon Docks setting was filmed for four weeks in the Uppertown neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon, making the city the spiritual and geographic anchor of the franchise. The production bloced the Thunderbird Motel (now the Astoria Riverwalk Inn) for a month, starting principal photography on October 22, 1984, and used multiple downtown landmarks, including the old Clatsop County Jail and the Flavel House Museum.
Because of that legacy, Astoria has become a year-round film tourism destination, with guided tours that highlight the "Goonies House" on 38th Street and other recognizable locations. This established location identity strongly incentivizes the sequel to return to Astoria for continuity, fan service, and marketing cohesion.
What "signals" point to Astoria for Goonies 2?
Several public-facing signals suggest that Astoria is the most likely hub for Goonies 2 if production greenlights in the next few years. A 2021 local report noted that a sequel project dubbed "The Goonies 2" had named Fort George Brewery in downtown Astoria as a key filming site, framing the city as the "homeland" of the franchise.
Similarly, regional film news outlets have speculated that Warner Bros. and Amblin intend to "bookend" the franchise's 40th anniversary by returning to Astoria and Cannon Beach, locations that already possess the built-in set infrastructure and period-correct aesthetics that would be costly to recreate elsewhere. These factors create a strong economic and narrative pull toward Astoria even though studio communiqués remain deliberately vague.
Why Astoria makes economic and narrative sense
From an economic standpoint, Astoria already hosts a robust film-support infrastructure, including local crew, permits offices, and a tourism board that has actively courted follow-on projects tied to the original movie. Re-using Astoria's existing streetscapes and partnerships can cut location-reconnaissance time by roughly 30-40% compared with building sets in Los Angeles or Vancouver, according to recent mid-budget film-location studies.
From a storytelling angle, the narrative continuity of the Goonies universe relies heavily on the "Goon Docks" as a fixed emotional anchor for the characters. Bringing the returning cast back to Astoria in 2026-style boroughs (with updated homes, storefronts, and community dynamics) would allow the script to explore "where the Goonies are now" without sacrificing the franchise's geographic DNA.
What could still prevent filming in Astoria?
Even with strong signals, several production hurdles could still push some or all of Goonies 2 away from Astoria. Major studio scheduling pressures, tax-credit incentives in other states, and the availability of period-specific interiors (such as mock-up basements and tunnels) may require the team to supplement Astoria with soundstage work in Portland or Los Angeles.
Weather and permit logistics also play a role; Astoria's wet climate and narrow streets can limit the number of shooting days per month, especially in the shoulder seasons. If the studio prioritizes a tight shooting window of 60-70 days, they might allocate only 30-45 days to Astoria and reserve the rest for controlled environments elsewhere.
What locals and fans should watch for
For residents and tourism operators in Astoria, the most concrete early signal of an upcoming shoot would be a spike in location-permit applications, temporary business-closure notices, and "no filming" or "no parking" signage in the Goon Docks corridor. Local news outlets have already reported that community groups and the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce have begun quietly preparing economic-impact plans for a potential film boom in 2026-2027.
Fans tracking the project closely should monitor official Amblin and Warner Bros. press releases, as well as notices from the Oregon Film Office, which is responsible for allocating state film incentives and coordinating with local jurisdictions. If those bodies jointly announce a "multi-city Oregon shoot" with Astoria listed as a primary location, that would be the strongest public confirmation short of an on-the-ground production start.
Timeline and realistic expectations
Based on current pre-production timelines, industry analysts estimate that Goonies 2 could enter active filming as early as late 2026 or more likely in early to mid-2027, assuming script approval and director selection occur in the first half of 2026. Pre-production phases for similarly scaled studio family adventures typically last 12-18 months, including casting, table reads, and location scouting.
Even if Astoria is confirmed as a principal location, fans should expect significant portions of the shoot to be protected by non-disclosure agreements and limited public access, echoing the original 1984 production in which locals saw only fragments of the full filming schedule. Social-media leaks and early set photos may surface, but the most reliable information will continue to come via official studio and city-level channels.
Illustrative production-location scenarios
To illustrate how Goonies 2 might allocate its shooting days between Astoria and other locations, the following table maps out two plausible scenarios based on current industry practices for similarly scaled family-adventure films.
| Scenario | Total Filming Days | Days in Astoria | Other Oregon Locations | Soundstage / Studio Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Astoria-centric" | 70 days | 35 days (50%) | Cannon Beach (10 days), Ecola State Park (5 days) | 20 days |
| "Hybrid West Coast" | 65 days | 25 days (38%) | Portland interiors (5 days), coastal roads (10 days) | 25 days |
These figures are illustrative rather than confirmed, but they reflect typical patterns for mid-budget studio films that blend on-location exteriors with controlled-environment interiors. The "Astoria-centric" scenario assumes that the studio prioritizes fan expectations and legacy geography, while the "Hybrid West Coast" scenario reflects a more cost-driven approach that relies heavily on flexible studio space.
Practical checklist for fans and locals
If you are an Astoria resident or a fan planning a potential visit when Goonies 2 might shoot, here is a practical checklist of steps to take now:
- Subscribe to email alerts from the City of Astoria and the Clatsop County Film Office for location-permit notices and noise-ordinance changes.
- Follow local tourism boards and film-tour operators on social media to receive updates about filming streets and temporary closures.
- Bookmark the official Warner Bros. and Amblin Entertainment news pages, which typically publish press releases when principal photography begins in specific cities.
- Keep an eye on job-board listings for regional film crews; an uptick in local calls for drivers, grips, and extras is an early sign of a shoot window opening.
- Plan visits around the shoulder seasons (spring and early fall) when Astoria's weather conditions are most favorable for exterior work, which statistically increases the odds of visible filming activity.
Step-by-step timeline for monitoring progress
To stay ahead of the curve, you can follow this step-by-step monitoring plan:
- Track the script-status updates from Potsy Ponciroli and Amblin, noting when the studio moves from "pre-production" to "production."
- Watch for the first official announcement of a director; that hire often triggers location-scouting and permit applications, including in Astoria.
- Monitor the Oregon Film Office's public calendar for any feature-film permit applications that list "Astoria" or "Goon Docks"-style keywords.
- Check local newspapers and city bulletins for changes in parking rules, street-closure schedules, or temporary business-hours adjustments in Uppertown and downtown.
- When filming begins, visit designated fan-viewing zones shared by local authorities and tourism boards so you can observe activity without interfering with production.
Final takeaway for the Astoria question
To synthesize the current state: Goonies 2 is moving steadily through pre-production, with strong internal and regional signals that Astoria will host at least a major portion of the shoot if and when the project goes into principal photography. However, until Warner Bros. and the Oregon Film Office jointly publish a formal production-location schedule naming Astoria as a primary site, the answer must remain cautiously optimistic rather than definitive.
Expert answers to Could Goonies 2 Film In Astoria Again Fans Weigh In queries
Will Goonies 2 be filmed in Astoria?
As of now there is no official greenlight that guarantees all or even most of Goonies 2 will be filmed in Astoria, but every available signal-creative, economic, and logistical-points toward Astoria as the primary or at least core location if the project moves into full production. Local reports and industry tracking outlets suggest that the studio plans to anchor the sequel in Astoria, mirroring the original's legacy, but until a formal production announcement names Astoria in the shooting schedule, the answer remains "probable but not confirmed."
How likely is Astoria to be the main filming hub?
Given Astoria's established location library, existing fan-driven tourism ecosystem, and the creative team's stated desire to honor the original film's geography, Astoria is currently the most likely main hub for Goonies 2. Quantitatively, trade analysts who follow mid-budget family films estimate roughly a 70-80% probability that Astoria will host at least the exterior "Goon Docks" sequences and key downtown scenes, with the remainder complemented by other Oregon locations or studio facilities.
What would be a clear sign that filming is coming to Astoria?
The most definitive sign that Goonies 2 will film in Astoria would be an official co-production notice listing the city as a "principal photography location," accompanied by a detailed shooting schedule published by the Oregon Film Office. Additional local indicators include a noticeable increase in film-crew housing rentals, blocking permits issued for Uppertown streets and the 38th-Street corridor, and formal job listings for local grips, drivers, and extras posted through regional film-services agencies.
Could the studio decide to shoot mostly elsewhere?
Yes. The studio could theoretically choose to shoot most of Goonies 2 in other regions or on studio lots if stronger tax incentives, better weather windows, or more flexible soundstage availability become available elsewhere. However, that shift would come at a narrative cost, since the franchise's identity is tightly bound up in Astoria's visual language and community history, making such a move statistically less likely than a hybrid approach that keeps Astoria at the center.
What should Astoria residents do to prepare?
Astoria residents should monitor city council bulletins, local media, and the Clatsop County Film Office for updates on noise ordinances, road-closure notices, and temporary parking restrictions tied to potential film production activity. Home- and business-owners in the Uppertown and downtown areas may also want to contact local film-services coordinators about becoming approved locations or extras providers, as productions often prioritize local talent and storefronts to reduce travel and logistics overhead.
How can fans track real-time filming news?
Fans who want real-time updates should bookmark the Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. official news pages, plus regional outlets that cover film tourism in Oregon, such as the Oregon Film Office's blog and local newspapers serving the Astoria-Warrenton area. Social-media accounts of local film commissions and tourism boards often post day-of filming notices, including specific street closures and fan-friendly viewing zones, which can help people plan respectful but satisfying "on-the-set" visits without disrupting production.