It looks as if no sooner has the Weinstein Company/Dimension announced plans for a third installment of their revitalized Halloween franchise, in 3D no less, than they’ve put those plans on hold.
According to Deadline Hollywood, the Weinstein Company only saw the first draft of the Halloween 3D script this past Friday, but had been planning on starting production on the film in November for a Summer 2010 release. The start date is unmovable due to director Patrick Lussier’s commit to start shooting Drive Angry in January. Reportedly, the decision came from Bob Weinstein, the more business oriented of the Weinstein Brothers, who felt that the current schedule would be rushing things too quickly.The new plan is too wait until Lussier is finished with Drive Angry before heading to Shreveport, LA to lens Halloween 3D.
Of course, there are rumors floating around that Summit Entertainment, with its pockets burning with Twilight cash, is looking to acquire some assets and that the recently floundering Weinstein Company may be in its sights. Could these two stories be related?
In the meantime, Weinstein will be doing a quick re-release of Halloween 2 at the end of October for the Halloween weekend to pick up a bit more quick cash. The film has already pulled $32 million at the box office, more than double its $15 million budget.
After the sinkhole that was otherwise known as Halloween 2, there is no reason to continue with a 3rd. And if the only gimmick the 3rd has going for it, is to jump on the 3D bandwagon—-who needs it.