With studios wanting to release horror sequels in quick succession to maximise interest in whatever franchise they’re trying to flog to death, it’s become increasingly common for plans to be drawn up for a follow-up before the first movie hits cinemas, with the studio waiting for the first weekend grosses to decide whether it’s worth actually making another movie.
That’s what’s happened with A Nightmare Of Elm Street. The remake, which hit the US last Friday and comes over to the UK this week, cost only $27 million to make, but grossed $33 million in its first weekend in America. That’s certainly more than enough to suggest a sequel would make a profit, and so TheWrap is now reporting that Platinum Dunes and New Line have now committed to a follow-up.
Producer Andrew Form previously told Dread Central that Platinum Dunes is very open to the possibility of a Nightmare sequel. It would be amazing to work with Jackie and the cast again. Unfortunately, as far as we know right now, Sam wouldnt be back to direct the follow-up, but wed love to come back to Elm Street because Freddy always has a story to tell. We definitely left ourselves open for a sequel so it would be a great privilege to get to do another Nightmare film.”
However the news Samuel Bayer won’t return may actually be good news for Platinum Dunes. They apparently wanted to turn the remake 3D, but Bayer refused. However if he’s not directing again, it’ll mean there’s no impediment to bringing Freddy back, slashing away at the screen in three dimensions.
However it still seems they’re fairly early in the sequel process. “We don’t have a story yet, but this is the largest horror opening in the April-May corridor, and it just proves there’s a lot left in the franchise,” said Warner distribution president Dan Fellman. However don’t be surprised if they come up with a plot pretty quick (Freddy kills teenagers – there I’ve just done it for them) and the sequel goes into production very quickly.