There is no doubt that sequels are a fundamental part of the film industry, whether due to artistic desire or commercial interest of the studios. Sometimes, they even do not hesitate to release the second installment of a film many years later, as in the case of Avatar, which premiered in 2009 and whose sequel arrives later this year, prolonging the longing of the audience.
However, there are also cases in which Hollywood promised us a second and even third part that never came, something heartbreaking if we think of all those tapes that could have had a sequel and that really deserved it. For better or worse, many film projects died in the middle of development for multiple reasons. Here are 12 long-awaited movies that never saw the light of day.
1. Kill Bill
Despite the fact that Quentin Tarantino spent years promising that he would do the Volume 3 of Kill Bill, with Uma Thurman, the promises never materialized. According to the filmmaker himself, he had envisioned the series as a trilogy, but he never got to do the third or was exaggerating when he said he had a script for one.
It is worth mentioning that Tarantino frequently says one thing, but does another, even making fun of many film projects that never came to fruition.
two. World War Z
The sequel was going to be directed by David Fincher and was scheduled for 2020. However, Paramount Pictures canceled it due to budget overruns. Additionally, the studio preferred to focus on the aftermath of Mission Impossible (7 and 8).
3. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword It was going to be the first movie in a saga of six, but they were abandoned due to the great commercial failure, since from a budget of 175 million dollars it only grossed around 148.6 million at the world box office.
Four. Terminator: Salvation
The film starring Christian Bale was supposed to be the first part of a trilogy, but was canceled due to disappointing results at the global box office. In addition, there was talk of problems with the rights of the film and other reasons that were not disclosed.
5. Tron: Legacy
The second film produced by Disney was a box office success. However, reviews were mixed. A third installment was planned for 2015, but the studio canceled the project without giving reasons.
6. Conan the barbarian
For years there has been talk of a third chapter of Conan, with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who concluded the saga by recounting Conan’s old age as king of Aquilonia. In fact, director Chris Morgan worked for a time on the project, even Schwarzenegger himself assured him several times, but the pleas of the fans They were not enough and the promises of a third movie fell on deaf ears.
7. jumper
Producer Lucas Foster had hoped for a trilogy, but the sequels were scrapped due to poor critical reception. However, the $85 million budgeted feature film earned $222.2 million at the worldwide box office. Only one was released spin off called Boostwhich premiered on YouTube Premium in 2018.
8. Eragon
This movie is the adaptation of the first novel of a literary saga written by Christopher Paolini. Despite a good box office result, around 249 million dollars for a budget of 100 million, the sequel will never see the light because the writers of the feature film eliminated too many important elements of the novel.
Additionally, reviews were terrible at 16 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and fans of the novel were disappointed in the adaptation.
9. John Carter
Disney planned a saga of six films derived from the film starring Taylor Kitsch and in which it invested more than 250 million dollars, hoping to generate at least 750 million at the worldwide box office.
However, it only managed to raise 284 million. The title of the sequel was going to be The Gods of Mars.
10. Shadowhunters city of bone
This movie is the adaptation of the first novel of the literary saga The Chronicles of the Shadowhunters, by the American writer Cassandra Clare. With a budget of 60 million dollars, it only grossed about 73 million at the worldwide box office and the reviews were not as good, like 12 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, so, in 2016, it was decided to release a reboot but in serial mode with Shadowhunters, Three seasons on Netflix.
eleven. Atlantis: the lost empire
Originally, Disney had big plans with this universe. In the event of commercial success, Mickey Mouse’s house had new attractions planned based on the film. In addition, a series called Team Atlantisas well as a sequel Atlantis II: Shards of Chaos.
However, because the original film was a resounding flop at the worldwide box office, all of Disney’s plans were cancelled. Before shelving the project, three of the 39 episodes of the series were finished, which were later released in the movie. Atlantis: Milo’s Return (2003), available only on videocassette.
12. The treasure Planet
Despite the good reviews and the Oscar nomination for Best Animated Film in 2003, Disney Studios’ 43rd animated feature film became another of its failures, since from a budget of 140 million dollars it only earned 109.5 million, so the other projects in this universe were canceled even when it had everything to be a success.