The Thing 2

cought this news....?

** THE THING 2?!: Two sources have told Coming Attractions that Universal film executives have already been testing the waters to see if they shouldn't dust off the film franchise and consider making a sequel to John Carpenter's classic film. Our first anonymous insider, known only as "MC", told us that Universal has already sent out feelers to see if none other than John Carpenter himself would ever consider continuing the story as writer/director! And the reason for this sudden interest in making a sequel to a movie that was originally considered a box office failure? The widespread fan interest in the video game, apparently.

However, our source was quick to mention there is a downside: supposedly Carpenter sent back his own "feeler" that he might be interested... provided Universal coughed up the big bucks. "Ole Johnny Carpenter wants a little too much money for his part," our inside connection told CA. After a string of box office dissappointments like GHOSTS OF MARS, VAMPIRES and the $70 million dollar ESCAPE FROM L.A. dud, that's why at this current stage of discussion Carpenter's name is only "being considered" as a possible creative partner for THE THING 2 and not firmly attached to the project. (thanks to AintItCoolNews.com)

Interesting....

Escape from L.A. did not cost 70 million however, from what I remember it was more like 25. Carpenter received 5 million and Kurt Russell got 10 million leaving 10 million to make the rest of the film... which would explain why is was so damn cheap looking. I really doubt it was a 70 million film, if it was they squandered the budget all to hell.

And though I hated Vampires, wasn't it a hit? I think it opened at number one, did it not? By no means a 100 million boxoffice smash, but I think it was considered a hit.

I read a treatment for The Thing part 2 that was the stupidest damn treatment I have ever read... yes even worse then the direct-to-video Showgirls 2 treatment.

The Thing 2 treatment had Russell survive the eventual circumstances of the finale of the last film only to unite with a different breed of alien to overtake a government conspiracy dealing with the original alien. It was just terrible. One would hope that Universal acknowledge that incredible cult status of Carpenter's film and grant him the needed funds to make a worthy sequel. I'd see it for sure.

[moogong]

The Thing 2 would be great. It would be lame to just continue from the first one though. I would like to see a whole new team come in and hunt the thing. Possibly lead by Kurt Russell.

Ehh, come on Universal, give him $50 million--get Kurt Russell and Keith David and a couple of good younger actors and MOST importantly maintain the cold, isolated setting of the first one. And of course Rob Bottin and only as much CGI as necessary. Just don't try to modernize it with a bunch of lame quips, play it STRAIGHT for god's sake. Otherwise it's not worth doing. If done right, though it may not make 100 mil at the box office, it would surely be profitable on video.

EFLA did not cost 70mill.

i was running the JC fan club at the time.

Total post budget after advertising was still under 50mill and it made that back after vid sales ETC.

[Fistfuck]

The Thing 2 was actually being considered back in the 80s, and if I'm not mistaken I believe Carpenter was the one who came up with the idea for a sequel.

[mcchrist]

Even if Carpenter signed on for part 2, it would still be a bloody stupid thing to do! No sequels please because you know that it will end up being a CGI crapfest, and I'm sorry but the creature effects from part 1 are a thousand times better than any CGI I've ever seen.

[Yowie]

I totally agree with mcchrist; bad idea to do it, it's just too late to do it right. Unless or course, Carpenter and Russell were involved and were to make it with Carpenter's old trademark pacing (that means not like "Vampires") and no CGI involved. But, alas, we all know there would be CGI en masse so they should forget the whole thing altogether.

[bigdaddyhorse]

IMO, a sequel would just suck, no matter what.
The end of the first one is perfect, and them motherfuckers are drunk icycles now! Leave it that way, you can't bring Russell back, esp. not as his brother of son or some dumb shit like that.

If a sequel is done, hopefully the only left from the first movie will be corpses and McReady's tape.

[KillerCannabis]

I've heard that the only sequel Carpenter ever considered doing would be to The Thing. I think he could do it right, but only him. Anyone else with this film would crash it into the fucking ground. And screw Universal too for wanting to cash in on this. And saying Carpenter is only "being considered". He MADE the film, its his baby, not there for Uni to throw around hoping to score some cash.

[SEANVALEN]

Agree with Killer Cannabis. Plus I don't think its just Carpenter and Russell I would think that needs to be in the sequel, but the guy who did the gore/designs of The Thing in its many forms, don't remember his name, but he was in the documentry of the dvd, if he's alive, get him back, make it on a 10-20 million budget tops, with Russell being the main draw for boxoffice along with the cult status of the first film.

[Erg0n]

I guess the sequel will have some dependancy on the popularity of the video game being released tomorrow. But i would like to see a sequel done by Carpenter, the ending of the Thing sets itself up for a sequel.

On a side note, reports have it that carpenter was impressed by the developers game "The Thing" and plans to relase more games based on his movies/books

John Carpenter help make The Thing video game, so as it would be close to the original movie as possible. If He makes The Thing 2, all he has to do is take a few artistic risks like the first one and have Stan Winston do the creature effects even if it's all CGI. Stan made the first creature "The dog kennel scene" which is why the movie is even remembered in the first place. Rob made the rest of the creature special effects.

[TobalRox]

Tomorrow? I've had the game for over a week now. I got the PS2 version if this helps anyone. It's definitely a sweet game, but I think this is best fit for another thread.