Is “Scary Tales to Inform within the Darkish 2” nonetheless occurring? Or is that this a kind of sequels that obtained introduced solely to by no means see the sunshine of day? If director André Øvredal has his approach, it is going to occur. Sadly, it is not completely as much as him.
/Movie’s Jeremy Mathai lately spoke to Øvredal in honor of his new scary horror film “Passenger.” Throughout the dialog, the topic of a sequel to 2019’s “Scary Tales to Inform within the Darkish” got here up. The director could be very a lot concerned about doing it, however there is a little bit of a proper challenge holding issues up. Here is what he needed to say about it:
“I imply, sure and no. What I can say is that it has been caught in a little bit of a copyright possession hell with two studios that do not exist anymore, that produced a film collectively, CBS Movies and EOne, they usually do not actually exist anymore.”
Hasbro purchased Leisure One in 2019, solely to promote it in 2022. That is drawback one. Drawback two, CBS Movies was shuttered in 2019 after some shake-ups at CBS. Therefore, issues obtained difficult. Øvredal additional defined that, ought to the events determine issues out, they’re able to go along with one other cinematic tackle the books by Alvin Schwartz. As tells us:
“The rights unfold out to 2 different corporations, after which they should conform to determine it out between them, and that has taken a while, however there may be motion. We do have conversations about it as soon as each couple of months, and there may be presently some motion, I am gathering. But it surely turns into about authorized departments and never about creatives, as a result of now we have a narrative that I like that’s simply able to go each time someone decides, ‘I personal the film, let’s go make it.'”
Does a Scary Tales to Inform within the Darkish sequel nonetheless make sense?
A “Scary Tales to Inform within the Darkish” sequel was introduced in 2020, with André Øvredal set to return to the director’s chair. This transfer made sense, on condition that the primary film earned $104 million on the field workplace towards a $25 million funds. These are numbers that imply “sequel” in Hollywood on any day that ends in “y.” Particularly when Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro is likely one of the writers and producers. The primary film additionally earned favorable opinions, which by no means hurts.
Sadly, rights points could be difficult, and company jockeying can get in the best way even when there appears to be loads of cash to be made. Although additionally it is value noting that the primary film got here out earlier than the pandemic shut down film theaters for months on finish in 2020. When theaters reopened in late 2020/early 2021, the business had modified for good.
One factor that’s completely sure is that horror has remained a really regular winner on the field workplace, regardless of the entire modifications within the business. Alvin Schwartz’s books additionally include lots extra supply materials for Øvredal to mine. Very like the books, “Scary Tales to Inform within the Darkish” performed like a gateway drug for younger horror followers. Even when a really direct sequel may not make as a lot sense because it as soon as did, the franchise potential for this property continues to be there. On the very least, it nonetheless looks like a low-risk/high-reward prospect if the powers that be can come collectively and determine this mess out.
“Passenger” hits theaters on Might 22, 2026.
