“The saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode isn’t over.” Two follow-ups to last year’s well-received Halloween installment are headed into production.
Universal Pictures, the partner of producer Blumhouse, revealed Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends will be filmed together. They are set for releases in 2020 and 2021. “Horror Master” John Carpenter, creator of Michael Myers and Halloween, shared the announcement over Twitter along with a teaser.
The saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode isn't over. #HalloweenKills #HalloweenEnds @HalloweenMovie pic.twitter.com/l4KT8sUo4q
— John Carpenter (@TheHorrorMaster) July 19, 2019
This confirms earlier reports that not only would the 2018 reboot get more than one sequel, but they would be filmed back to back. David Gordon Green will return to direct and co-write with Danny McBride and the additions of Scott Teems (for Halloween Kills), Paul Brad Logan and Chris Bernier (for Halloween Ends).
Jamie Lee Curtis Back in Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends
Carpenter is involved as an executive producer but it is unclear if he will score the sequels as he did the last one.
Jamie Lee Curtis is returning yet again as Laurie Strode for both outings. She posted a tweet saying she is “just WARMING UP,” a reference to the previous movie’s finale.
“It ain’t over till the fat lady sings.” Well, my friends and fans….I’m just WARMING UP🔥🔪 Happy Halloween 🎃2020/2021 @halloweenmovie #halloweenkills #halloweenends pic.twitter.com/mjkZNdYqiY
— Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) July 19, 2019
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Curtis ran into criticism after her comeback in the 2018 Halloween due to her personal stance on guns. The actress is in favor of gun control but the Laurie Strode character is a well-armed survivalist. And she’s crazy about having firearms handy to use against Michael when he inevitably comes for her family.
Halloween 4 and 5 Filmed Back to Back as Well
The last time two Halloween movies were filmed successively within a year was in the late 1980s. Halloween 4 and Halloween 5, which introduced Danielle Harris in her star-making role (Jamie Lloyd), filmed in Salt Lake City in 1988 and 1989 respectively. They came out the same years — on the 10th anniversary of Carpenter’s first film.
David Gordon Green’s Halloween is the 11th film in the series and the highest-grossing. It made $250 million worldwide. The original is noted for raking in less than half that total — though still one of the most profitable independent films ever made.
Halloween Kills opens on Oct. 16, 2020, and Halloween Ends will open the year after on Oct. 15, 2021, wrapping up the trilogy. If it’s for good remains to be seen but is unlikely where The Shape is concerned.