Summary
Jason Blum expresses doubts about another revival of the Halloween franchise, stating that Halloween Ends was intended to be the end.
Reports of a TV show based on Halloween sparked speculation about a potential prequel delving into Laurie's backstory or a younger version of Michael. This raises concerns about maintaining consistency with the established canon.
The only other feasible choice to keep the franchise going would be to completely restart it, but this poses the danger of disregarding the grounded tone established in the recent trilogy. On the other hand, continuing the story would run the risk of revisiting the supernatural elements that critics and audiences previously disliked.
After definitively putting an end to the central villain's reign of terror, Jason Blum addresses the recent reports of another revival for the Halloween franchise. The slasher movie series, originally created by John Carpenter, received increasingly mixed reviews across its numerous sequels. However, it was brought back to life in 2018 with Halloween, produced by Blumhouse and hailed as a direct sequel to the original film. Despite the mixed reception of its subsequent follow-ups, including Halloween Ends which seemingly concluded the franchise with the demise of Michael Myers, Blumhouse has doubts about continuing the series. Speaking with ComicBook.com for the upcoming release of The Exorcist: Believer, Blum, the producer behind the recent sequel trilogy, expressed uncertainty and reassured that their run with the franchise had reached its conclusion.
Does The Halloween Franchise Need Another Revival?
The story reached its conclusion with the words, 'The End.' Uncertainty engulfs my mind. Uncertainty prevails. As of late, thoughts of Halloween have consumed my thinking. My certainty wavers. My conviction that it was our final Halloween was once unwavering, but now... It's interesting, isn't it? Halloween swiftly approaches, yet my feelings remain unclear. I cannot say for certain. It's anyone's guess.Upon hearing news of yet another revival of the Halloween franchise, devoted fans expressed a mixture of excitement and hesitation, while the film industry simply shrugged off the inevitable return of this enduring property. The main source of skepticism stemmed from Myers' supposed demise in Halloween Ends and Laurie's long-awaited resolution after her enduring battle against the notorious slasher.
That said, rumors of a TV show being considered to keep the franchise alive sparked theories about a potential prequel exploring Laurie's aftermath from her initial encounter with Michael or even focusing solely on a younger Michael. However, if a TV adaptation were to pursue either route, it would face the challenge of choosing which canon path to follow, as previous sequels have struggled with this decision.
For instance, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers released in 1988 served as a continuation of Carpenter's 1981 sequel, revealing that Laurie had died in a car accident. On the other hand, H20 in 1998 somewhat retconned this by explaining that Laurie had faked her death to evade Michael. In contrast, the 2018 legacy sequel disregarded these timelines completely, forging its own narrative that carried on from Carpenter's original 1978 film.
Another viable option for the Halloween franchise's revival would be a complete reboot similar to Rob Zombie's 2007 remake and its loosely based sequel, which established their own storyline. However, resurrecting Michael definitively in a potential sequel would undermine the more grounded approach adopted by David Gordon Green and his creative team, potentially delving into the supernatural aspects that the '80s and '90s sequels were criticized for. Considering that other franchises like Indiana Jones have chosen to let their final installments serve as the characters' end, it is hopeful that Miramax will reconsider their decision and make Halloween Ends the ultimate conclusion to the horror series.
Source: ComicBook.com