It seems that every film coming out nowadays is a continuation of some sort: sequels, reboots, remakes, etc. It can be a slippery slope, as fans’ reactions can go one of two ways: they either hate it or love it. The new Syfy Chucky TV show already has a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. In contrast, other sequels in the past, such as Jaws 3D (1983) or the infamously hated Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005), did not so well among audiences.

While there are a lot of horror movie sequels and reboots that should’ve never even left the grounds, there are a few horror sequels that were supposed to happen but never came to fruition. These are some horror movie sequels that have stayed on the back burner for years.

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Halloween Anthology Series

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Now, this is an interesting one. It’s a known fact that John Carpenter wasn’t keen on the entire series revolving around Michael Myers, stating, “I had made that film once, and I really didn’t want to do it again.”

To explain briefly, Halloween is about a serial killer named Michael Myers who returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, 15 years after he brutally murdered his sister at just six years old. The first film is the beginning of Myer’s obsession with Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her friends. Since then, the franchise has sky-rocketed, having 12 films under its belt and the 13th on the way. Interestingly enough, Carpenter only directed the first film.

Carpenter never planned on Halloween having a sequel. He and co-creator Debra Hill originally scheduled for a horror anthology series, which takes place on Halloween, but with different characters, murderers, and setting for each part. Even though he didn’t want to direct, he agreed to co-write Halloween II to have some control still. At the end of the film, Carpenter kills both Myers and Dr. Loomis, signifying the end of Myers’ reign. Unfortunately for Carpenter, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, which does not feature Myers, didn’t do too well, still having just a 39% on Rotten Tomatoes (compared to the original film’s 96% rating).

The anthology series is a good idea, and it might have worked better in today’s era. At this point, Michael Myers is such an infamous face and killer; it seems like it might have been the right idea to keep him around.

Road of the Dead (2015)

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Another top-rated franchise, George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, was supposed to have a unique sequel called Road of the Dead. The original 1968 film revolves around people who hide in an abandoned house while corpses begin to rise from the graveyard and are hungry for human flesh. After the first film, Romero continued to write and direct Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead, and Survival of the Dead before his untimely death in 2017.

In 2015, Road of the Dead was announced, set to be a direct sequel to Land of the Dead (2005). The plot of the film revolves around people stuck on an island, this time, with zombie prisoners terrorizing them. Romero was set to work on this film with screenwriter and director Matt Birman.

Birman has claimed that he still wants to get the movie made. Sadly, the film has been untouched for the past seven years and doesn’t seem to be making it to the big screen anytime soon.

The Return of the Killer Klowns From Outer Space

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The original iconic Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988) had a tight budget of just $1.8 million, but Stephen and Charles Chiodo made sure to make the best of what they had. The two of them also wrote, produced, and were responsible for the practical effects and makeup. The original horror-comedy is about evil aliens from outer space who are undercover as clowns, and begin to terrorize a small town. Although not an instant success, the film has since gained a cult following.

The film remains a top-tier 80s eccentric horror film with its ultra-colorful makeup, set designs, and bright lights and colors. The film is so loved amongst horror fans that a reboot has been in talks since the film came out. As recently as 2018, SYFY was in talks to purchase the rights. Sadly, it's been pretty quiet since then, and the film doesn’t seem to be getting the reboot it deserves.

Killer Klowns From Outer Space was the only film that the Chiodo brothers ever directed, but they have stated multiple times they want to make a reboot or sequel. Hey, they made a movie with minimal help before; maybe they can do it again. If anyone can get the film off the ground, it's the original creators.

When a Stranger Returns

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When A Stranger Calls is a 2006 remake of the original 1979 film of the same name. The remake took a unique take on the original, just focusing on the opening scene and turning it into a full-length movie. When A Stranger Calls is about Jill (Camilla Belle), a babysitter watching two young children in their secluded mansion. An anonymous person keeps calling, and each time Jill answers, the calls get more and more threatening.

When interviewed for Bloody Disgusting, Writer Jake Wade claimed that they were planning to make a direct sequel called When a Stranger Returns. This time around, Jill was the mother who hired a babysitter to watch her children. The young babysitter is now the one being stalked and terrorized, and Jill is their only hope.

Although in talks for years, the film has remained put on hold, as it's been 15 years since the initial release. Camille Belle is 15 years older than before, so she could play a mother now (fingers crossed).

All these films have interesting ideas for sequels and reboots. With remakes being so successful these days, it's a shame that these never made it past being in the talking phase. All fans can do is hope and wait that one of these films will happen in the future; hopefully, the not-so-far future.

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