The Legal Battle that Sparked the Creation of 'Halloween II'

The Big Picture

John Carpenter's Halloween changed the face of horror in 1978, setting the rules for the slasher subgenre.

Halloween's producer, Irwin Yablans, desired a sequel to the movie and was prepared to take legal action against Carpenter to ensure its creation. Carpenter opted to direct The Fog instead, but Yablans filed a lawsuit against him when Carpenter disregarded their agreement, leading to a negotiation for Halloween II.

John Carpenter's Halloween revolutionized the horror genre upon its release in 1978. Even individuals who are not typically fans of horror are aware of its impact. The resilience of Michael Myers, rising back up after a grueling battle, along with the emergence of Final Girls and jump scares, may now seem familiar, but in 1978, these elements were completely novel. While Halloween was not the first slasher film, it unequivocally established the guidelines for the subgenre that would dominate the '80s. Although John Carpenter both wrote and directed Halloween, he was ready to explore new projects following its immense success. On the contrary, Halloween's producer, Irwin Yablans, had different plans. Yablans desired a sequel to Halloween and was prepared to take legal action against John Carpenter to make it happen.

John Carpenter Wanted To Make 'The Fog' After 'Halloween'

Image via Columbia Pictures

In the documentary "The Nightmare Isn't Over: The Making of Halloween II", Irwin Yablans, the executive producer, expressed his eagerness to create a sequel to Halloween. Despite the rarity of positive reviews for a slasher film, Halloween received acclaim and generated an impressive $47 million in the U.S. alone, surpassing expectations with a budget of only $325,000. Yablans recalled how, upon witnessing the initial box office success, he immediately envisioned a sequel and desired to collaborate with Carpenter once again. However, Carpenter, believing Halloween's triumph was an anomaly, declined the opportunity to replicate his earlier work and expressed interest in pursuing a different project for his next endeavor.

Yablans respected that, and when Carpenter told him he wanted his next picture to be The Fog, the producer was fine with it. "Sure," Yablans said. "Let's do Fog first, then we'll discuss Halloween II. We agreed on that." The Fog, written by John Carpenter and co-written by Debra Hill who also worked on Halloween, showcased Carpenter's desire to explore a different storyline. The movie revolves around vengeful ghost pirates who take control of a coastal town when a dense fog descends. However, things took a turn for the worse between Yablans and Carpenter before The Fog ever came into existence.

'Halloween's Irwin Yablans Sued John Carpenter To Get a Sequel

Image via Universal Studios

Rejected by his original arrangement, John Carpenter decided to take a different approach. In the documentary, Yablans discusses how he unintentionally created a chaotic situation. While on a plane ride to Cannes, Yablans encountered Bob Ramey, a former colleague from Paramount who was now the head of Avco Embassy Film. Yablans shared his plans with Ramey, revealing that he intended to collaborate with Carpenter on The Fog and Halloween II. Soon after, Ramey announced that he would be working with Carpenter on The Fog, effectively stealing him away from Yablans. "I was extremely upset. I was furious," admitted Yablans. "I tried reaching out to Carpenter, but he was unresponsive. I ultimately resorted to taking legal action against both of them." What unfolded next? Yablans explained, "To settle the case, we reached an agreement that allowed Carpenter to proceed with The Fog under Embassy, while we secured a commitment for Halloween II." Carpenter was so eager to create The Fog that he agreed to work on a project that didn't captivate him as much.

John Carpenter Hated 'Halloween II'

Image via Universal Pictures

The 1980 film, The Fog, didn't have the same impact on the horror genre as Halloween or The Thing, but it was a chilling production with notable stars such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, Adrienne Barbeau, and Tom Atkinson. Following The Fog, Carpenter's involvement in Halloween II shifted from director to screenwriter, along with Debra Hill. Unfortunately, their screenplay ended up being disappointing to those involved, including Irwin Yablans who criticized it as pedestrian and predictable. Initially, Tommy Lee Wallace, known for his work on Halloween, was considered to direct Halloween II, but he declined, stating that it didn't align with the essence of the original film. Both Wallace and Yablans disapproved of the excessive gore and violence in Halloween II. In a 2018 interview, Carpenter admitted that the decision to make Michael Myers and Laurie Strode siblings, in order to provide him with motivation, was a terrible and foolish idea. Despite the flaws, Halloween II remains a frightening film, showcasing one of the most relentless and terrifying portrayals of Michael Myers. However, future Halloween sequels would prove to be even worse.

Halloween II is available to stream on Peacock in the U.S.

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