John Carpenter Drops Bombshell: The Thing 2 in the Works
John Carpenter teases a sequel to The Thing, promising to resolve the ambiguity of the original ending Fans eagerly anticipate the continuation of the sci-fi horror classic
Director John Carpenter has hinted that a sequel to the classic sci-fi horror film, The Thing, may be in the works more than 40 years after the original release. The 1982 movie follows a research team in Antarctica as they are pursued by an alien that can take on the appearance of its victims. Although a prequel was released in 2011, it received negative reviews from critics and was a commercial failure. Speaking at Texas Frightmare Weekend, Carpenter suggested that a direct sequel to the original film could still be possible, remaining tight-lipped about the ambiguous ending and hinting that the answer could be revealed in a future installment.
“I have been sworn to secrecy, okay, because there may be, I don’t know if there will be, there may be a Thing 2."
Is The Thing 2 A Good Idea?
The idea of a prequel to The Thing was intriguing in the mid-2000s, however, the final outcome in 2011 showed that the material should have been left untouched. The film failed to deliver anything new and instead felt like a poor imitation of the original. The decision to rely heavily on CGI for the creature effects was a crucial mistake, as it simply couldn't compare to the grotesque and unsettling practical effects used in the original movie, created decades before.
While there is a possibility that a direct sequel to The Thing could learn from the mistakes of the prequel, it is also worth noting that the ambiguity of the ending is what makes the original film so captivating. With most of the researchers dead and the station destroyed, only MacReady and Childs are left, potentially one of them being the alien creature in disguise. It may be best to leave the ending as is and not risk a sequel ruining the iconic nature of the original.
However, the idea of a sequel is still intriguing. If a follow-up were to occur, the alien creature could potentially escape the Arctic research base and make its way to a nearby town or village, maintaining the chilling atmosphere of the first film. It is unclear if this potential sequel is separate from the planned reboot by Blumhouse or if it has evolved into that project, but the news is sure to excite those eager to see the story continue.
Source: Texas Frightmare Weekend (via Creepy Catalog)
