Casey McQuiston has moved to steady fans after a “pencils are down” remark about the Red, White & Royal Blue sequel, clarifying on social media that the phrase referred to finishing a section of work, not the project being shelved.
On August 15, during an Arlington Reads appearance, the author said, “I think it’s safe to say our pencils are down for now… we’ll see what comes next,” a line that sparked speculation about the sequel’s status.
The comment quickly split the fandom between those reading it as a completed draft and those fearing a stall. In a follow-up posted on August 19, McQuiston wrote that “pencils down” is simply a figure of speech—like in a timed exam—used to describe turning in work, adding, “it’s not that deep.”
The film’s second installment has been in development since May 2024, with McQuiston co-writing the script alongside writer-director Matthew López; leads Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez are set to return. As for story direction, McQuiston has previously hinted at a focus on Alex and Henry’s life once the first film’s confetti has settled, exploring the realities of an adult partnership under public scrutiny. No production start or release date has been announced.
Taken together, the timeline points to an expected handoff from writing to whatever the next step may be, rather than a pause in development. The clarification aligns with earlier public comments about the sequel’s intent and creative team while addressing fan anxiety triggered by shorthand phrasing.
