Why Did PHANTASM 2 Take So Long To Come Out?
PHANTASM was released in 1979. PHANTASM 2 did not come out until almost 10 years later. What was the hold up?
The Tall Man Took His Time With PHANTASM 2
When you look at PHANTASM’s contemporaries it sure did take a long time for its first sequel to come out. Halloween 2 made it out just about 3 years after the original. Nightmare on Elm Street was only 1 year! So what gives with PHANTASM. Here are the top reasons.
Casting creative differences delayed production on PHANTASM 2.
#1 THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED SEQUEL FELL THROUGH
For those that have read THE HISTORY OF PHANTASM you may remember that a sequel was mentioned in the very early 80s. However, that iteration fell through.
What would PHANTASM 2 have looked like if it came out in 1981?
#2 DON COSCARELLI WAS WORKING ON OTHER PROJECTS
PHANTASM creator Don Coscarelli was involved in several other exciting projects that took him away from the world of PHANTASM. First off, Coscarelli co-wrote and directed The Beastmaster in 1982.
The Beastmaster prevented PHANTASM 2 from being made.
Secondly, he directed metal rocker Ronnie James Dio’s classic MTV staple The Last In Line.
#3 COSCARELLI STRUGGLED WITH THE STORY
It's no secret than when presented with financing, Coscarelli struggled to create a sequel story. As Coscarelli relates in his book True Indie, "At the end of my film the nefarious Tall Man won and everyone else lost. It was game over. One day, an idea came to me. It wasn’t a sequel, it was simply an approach. What if I were to start Phantasm II the very moment after the original film ended?"
Once Coscarelli selected this path the script came together quickly along with the needed financing from Universal Studios.
So what do you think PHANTASM phans?! Were you one of the people anxiously awaiting a sequel? Does it keep you up at night that if the PHANTASM franchise would have started sequels earlier we might have had #6 #7 and #8 in the collection? Fun things to ponder. Until next time.
-The Tall Man’s Crypt Keeper