Have you ever watch a film so good that you want to immediately watch its part two? Well, more often than not, producers are attentive to the public’s request, especially if this is echoed by a lot of people. These are what sequels are for, and it’s a win-win situation for everybody involved: the audience gets to see a continuation of their favorite story on the big screen, actors get huge sums of money and sometimes may even be recognized by award-giving bodies, and studios also earn millions in profit.
One of the indicators that a film is about to get a sequel is a cliffhanger: The antagonist presumed to be killed suddenly awakens in his grave, a seemingly-finished business suddenly comes undone, and the list can go on and on. However, this also doesn’t guarantee part two, as what can be observed with films nowadays – instead, cliffhangers are meant to leave the audience hanging in anticipation.
If a newly introduced film is a hit, expect that the sequel is somewhere on the horizon, probably being talked about by financiers and producers. Of course, it’s not as simple as that – sometimes, even with the loud public clamor for a second movie is not enough to bring one to the table. There are a lot of factors to consider.
That said, there are loads of films that were supposed to have sequels but sadly did not get one. Little did we know that there were issues lurking behind the scenes that killed the plans:
Mrs. Doubtfire
This family film revolves around a dad trying to make efforts to spend quality time with his children after a rocky divorce left him little access to them. He then came up with a brilliant and articulate plan: disguise as an old nanny named Mrs. Doubtfire, who his wife will hire to take care of the kids.
This 1993 film was nothing short of success, earning numerous awards including People’s Choice Award for Favorite Comedic Movie and Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Potion. Soon a sequel resounded, but there were problems from the get-go: the biggest one was the script, or how the next film can still be fresh with the same story and premise. More so, Williams and the director Chris Columbus were both unhappy with the direction, so the sequel was scrapped.
The Breakfast Club
This ‘80s iconic film, directed by John Hughes, revolved around a group of teens who were thrown in detention one Saturday – this was one of the movies that became instrumental and classic in understanding generation gaps. It was so celebrated that rumors about a sequel swirled up in the following years, simply because people were up for seeing more of the story.
However, despite Emilio Estevez’ statement in 2005, a sequel was nowhere seen. Reports say that it was maybe because the director did not want to make a part two of “The Breakfast Club” because it might have killed the magic inculcated in the audience’s mind from the original film.
Forrest Gump
“Forrest Gump,” a 1994 dramedy film that starred Tom Hanks as the titular character, became a box-office behemoth, earning a little under $700 million, and even won several distinguished awards like the Academy Award for Best Picture. In short, a sequel was almost out of question – a lot of people want it and the second novel, “Gump and Co.,” had already been written.
However, the script was allegedly one of the reasons why no “Forrest Gump 2” ever hit the screens. It was described as weird, but what ultimately sealed the film’s fate was Hanks’ unwillingness to return as the character for the sequel, saying a part two could kill the accomplishment of the original film, hence, the novel would remain just as is.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
This Disney stop-motion animated film quickly became a cult classic, proven by the massive demand for a sequel and the lucrative merchandise sales. Given these factors, it is only rightful for a sequel to materialize.
The sequel for this Tim Burton-masterpiece was fueled with Paul Reubens’ statement that artist was caught up in penning a script for “The Nightmare Before Christmas” part two. However, the director denied the rumors, leaving fans disappointed.