Is “Scary Tales to Inform within the Darkish 2” nonetheless occurring? Or is that this a type of sequels that bought introduced solely to by no means see the sunshine of day? If director André Øvredal has his manner, it is going to occur. Sadly, it isn’t 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 may be very a lot curious about doing it, however there is a little bit of a proper concern 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 downside one. Drawback two, CBS Movies was shuttered in 2019 after some shake-ups at CBS. Therefore, issues bought tough. 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 comply with determine it out between them, and that has taken a while, however there’s motion. We do have conversations about it as soon as each couple of months, and there’s at the moment some motion, I am gathering. However it turns into about authorized departments and never about creatives, as a result of we have now a narrative that I really like that’s simply able to go at any time when any individual 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, provided that the primary film earned $104 million on the field workplace towards a $25 million price range. These are numbers that imply “sequel” in Hollywood on any day that ends in “y.” Particularly when Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro is without doubt one of the writers and producers. The primary film additionally earned favorable evaluations, which by no means hurts.
Sadly, rights points might be tough, and company jockeying can get in the best way even when there appears to be loads of cash to be made. Although it’s also 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 all the adjustments within the business. Alvin Schwartz’s books additionally include loads extra supply materials for Øvredal to mine. Very similar to the books, “Scary Tales to Inform within the Darkish” performed like a gateway drug for younger horror followers. Even when a really direct sequel won’t 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 seems 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.
