Sick of sequels, prequels and spin-offs? Really, who isn’t at this point. Outside of another ‘Hell Boy’ or the vaguely discussed “Eastern Promises 2,” we really couldn’t give a damn. Still, Bob Weinstein doesn’t care what any of us think: “I’m going back to what I do best,” he boasts, as quoted in this Variety blog piece. “These films are our strength and we are committed to doing them in style,” he insists, referring to needless continuations of a dozen or so franchises we wish would stay dead and buried. Translation: McFranchises like money and we want to stay in business.
Among the film’s announced as part of Dimension’s 2010 slate are: Robert Rodriguez’s “Spy Kids IV,” which has to be better than the director’s previous entry, which itself washed away what little goodwill the first two certifiably weird installments earned; and, to no one’s surprise, another ‘Halloween’ remake, aiming for a October 2010 release, leaving only the question, ‘Is Rob Zombie such a sellout/liar that he’ll actually return to helm this after saying two was enough?’
Maybe most distressingly, Weinstein has confirmed beyond random Twitter posts that there will be another full trilogy developed from the long-retired ‘Scream’ series, which is only upsetting because it means the underrated Neve Campbell will be wasting more of her time on this crap – and she rarely works these days, too. (Someone needs a paycheck; Wes Craven is in talks to direct, so more potential wasted talent there.)
Others announced range from the seemingly random (‘Short Circuit,’ ‘An American Werewolf in Paris’) to the shrug-inducing (a “Children of the Corn” remake and another ‘Hellraiser’ are on the way, which means another ‘Hellraiser’ we’ll never see). Oh, and like ninety percent of all this is going to be in 3D, so expect them all to feature extending tape measurers prominently.
Also mentioned at the tail end of this article is “The Road,” which Bob Weinstein confirmed will be opening wide on November 25th, and in around 800 or so theaters. –Sam C. Mac