Back in June, Dimension Films announced that their long-awaitedHalloweenfranchise follow-up,Halloween Returns, is moving forward with directorMarcus Dunstanat the helm. That report revealed production would begin in July, but it isn’t known if filming has even begun yet, since the filmmaker has yet to lock down a cast. Halloween Daily News recently spoke withMarcus Dunstan, who revealed that he is eyeingCommunitystarGillian Jacobsfor the lead role.
“I really like this actressGillian Jacobs. She’s known for all this comedy onCommunity, and yet I didn’t know her fromCommunityfirst, I knew her from a movie calledGardens of the Night, which is one of the most wrenching dramas, and she’s excellent. I thought, ‘I wonder if this great performer would do that again, would like to go there, and I think so.”
The director’s statement seems to confirmGillian Jacobshas already come aboard, but we haven’t heard anything official from Dimension Films at this time. It also hasn’t been confirmed whether or not this new project will connect to the originalHalloweenfranchise, or the tworebootsdirected byRob Zombie. A report from Shock Till You Drop in June claims thatHalloween Returnsis connected to the original series, with the story including Deputy Gary Hunt, originally played by Hunter von Leer in the 1981 sequelHalloween II, who is now the sheriff of Haddonfield, Illinois. While the director wouldn’t confirm these details, he did shed some light on the title.
“It does function as what it means to say: If you commit a violent act, sometimes you get returns. What are the repercussions of being a violent entity? In that case,Halloween Returnscould mean a number of things.”
If the rumored details aboutHalloween Returnsare true, this means the reboot will ignore all of the other original sequels and remakes. IfGillian Jacobsdoes sign on to star in thishorror sequel, then the next order of business will likely be trying to find the newMichael Myers. The director teased that he has already gone through some “motion tests” with actors who could be the next to play this horror icon. Here’s what the director had to say.
“The coolest thing we’ve done so far is a couple motion tests of potential Michaels. I want to see a film shot on film. I want it to be one that stands on its own. Suspense isn’t expensive. A karate fight in a burning room is expensive. Michael Myers is subtlety and suspense.”
Marcus Dunstanwill direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with his writing partnerPatrick Melton, withMalek Akkadproducing. We’ll keep you posted on whenproductionmay begin, or when the studio announces arelease date.Gillian Jacobsis no stranger to genre fare, having appeared inThe BoxandBad Milo. She most recently appeared on the big screen inHot Tub Time Machine 2and No Way Jose.
