Weinstein Company Shuts Down Halloween 3D. Halloween 2 Set For Re-Release.
According toDeadlineminutes ago, theWeinstein Companyhas temporarily (permanently?) pulled the plug on pre-production forHalloween 3D. Withrumors circulatingtoday throughout the industry thatSummit Entertainment, flush withTwilightmonies, might pursue an acquisition of TWC, this is not a good look. Sources tell Nikki Finke that TWC simply believed the production schedule was too fast—November ‘09 start for a summer ‘10 bow—only after receiving the script today. In the meantime, haters ofRob Zombie’s recentHalloween IIwill be glad to hear that TWC isre-releasingthe $31m grossing sequelonHalloween, news that demands the following: Derrrr.
Per the next sequel, as Zombie stated even before the August release ofH2, he had no plans to develop and direct a second sequel in his polarizing update ofMichael Myers. Making things a bit confusing from the get-go then, was the public announcement ofHalloween 3 (-D)almost immediately afterH2opened. No clarification was given as to why the number ‘3’ had to be involved, 3D gimmick aside, in the title, if the film wasn’t to follow what had come before. A director,Patrick Lussier, was quickly attached to the film, after having a surprise hit withMy Bloody Valentine 3D, a remake of the cult ’80s slasher.
Finke says that TWC will simply proceed with the film once Lussier’s schedule clears. But according to IMDB, he only has one project currently in development, entitledHeadhunter. It’s all a bit fishy. Could the so-so box office receipts for Zombie’sH2also be to blame for the decision? Well, as aforementioned, whynowif they saw the opening numbers before making the3Dannouncement? Also up for debate is whetherH2did categorically “lousy” numbers, a claim Finke is fond of reiterating.
The film’s budget was only $15m, a bit low for such a high-profile sequel. Sure, Zombie’s first installment grossed a huge $30m opening weekend in 2007 and went on to gross nearly $60, so the sequel did half-and-half those final figures. But what Finke and many analysts overlook in the weeks after is thatH2openedon the same weekendasThe Final Destination, an R-rated 3D franchise horror film that followed a similar success pattern asHalloween: $27m opening/$62m total (as of now). Chances are thatH2would have done gangbuster numbers in line with the first film without this head on collision, which is rare for any slasher sequel. See the diminishing returns for Platinum Dunes’Texas Chainsaw Massacrefranchise.
The point being: By no means do I have a horse in this race, but it’s a pretty obvious observation. TheHalloweenfilms are still profitable—H2’s grosses are nothing like aLand of the Lostor aPathfinder,for the studio. Add in DVD and TV rights, and it’s more than in the black. So, I really don’t thinkH2’s performance plays into this late night decision, but I also don’t buy TWC’s explanation about not wanting to rushH3D.Inglourious Basterdswas a much harder film to make, andHarvey Weinsteinand Co. putQuentin Tarantino’s ass into gear, as did the director himself. Lussier knew the tight schedule when he came aboard, and I look forward to his comment on the matter at a later date.
Michael Myers may be chillin’, but he’s not on ice. (Worst sentence ever.)
