4.9.07
As was reported the trailer for Rob Zombie's recreation of Halloween was released into theatres AND the internet this weekend.  Yahoo! Movies was kind enough to host the teaser in multiple formats and sizes.  I will admit this is a highly effective trailer, and does offer up a lot of familiar and fan-friendly visuals, but one cannot judge an entire film on a teaser trailer alone.  It's all quick cuts and creepy Malcolm McDowell voice overs.  So, it's rather cliché in its presentation.  In the second-at-a-time you see him Myers appears very faithful to what's been offered in the earlier installments.  You'll also notice Michael in the white sheet / ghost costume.  It certainly offers up a hopeful vision of the film in most part, but it might as well be a collection of stills.  I feel like I should go into a full-blown review right now.  After all, I was the webmaster of a short-lived movie trailer review website entitled The Trailer Destroyer - This Website Migh DESTROY Your Trailer!  In any case, the trailer is good, but we're a long way off from getting a a truly juicy view of this film.  Bloody Disgusting also grabbed an interview from the new Laurie Strode - Scout Taylor-Compton.

3.18.07
From my perspective, it's just sad that the only regular news updates I get to register on FOREVER HORROR concern this god-awful disasterpiece, and of course, Hollywood wants to remake another Carpenter classic in Escape From New York now.  Anyway, along with six new photos from the film (found in the multimedia archive), news comes that the first trailer for Rob Zombie's overhaul of Halloween will be attached to prints of the Rodriguez / Tarantino genre beast Grindhouse.  This was easily predictable since Zombie has contributed a faux trailer to the flm in Werewolf Women of the SS.  Not to mention, both flicks are from the Weinstein Company / Dimension Films.  Also, Zombie did a brief interview for USA Today, but reveals nothing we didn't already know or expect:

'Halloween' returning in Zombie-vision format Michael Myers isn't just a murderer, he's misunderstood.

So says Rob Zombie, who is bringing Michael back to the movies in Halloween, opening in August.  "It starts off when he's a kid," says Zombie, director of The Devil's Rejects and House of 1,000 Corpses. "Act 2 is him in an asylum."  Zombie's films are notorious for their twisted gore, but that's not what drives people to movies, he says. "They have to care about the characters. Michael Myers in the past is usually a stunt man wearing that mask. He's a fully formed character in this."  And that famous mask — in the original, it was a Capt. Kirk Star Trek mask painted white — gets a back story, Zombie says.  Gore may not be what sells a movie, but this Halloween will have Zombie's bloody fingerprints on it. "It's a very hard R — as extreme as it can be. The violence is brutal and it's real."

Jamie Lee Curtis played a babysitter stalked by Myers in the 1978 original. In this version, Scout Taylor-Compton plays the role. Zombie's wife, Sheri Moon, plays Michael's mom.  "Michael Myers is a character that for the last 28 years has degenerated into a popular Halloween character," Zombie says. "People will be shocked he's back to being a hard-core terrifying character."

3.8.07
A thankful correction regarding the use of the Halloween theme, originally composed by John Carpenter, has been issued via Bloody Disgusting.  Apparently, Zombie only shelved the reworked theme which was being tooled around with.  So, as it stands, the Carpenter's iconic musical theme remains as part of this film.  Here's B-D's exact report on MTV's error:

Clarification time as MTV has made a minor snafu in their report from the set of Rob Zombie's Halloween, which was posted here the other day. Zombie had made a comment about how he was trying to rework the score (listen here) and then shelved it, MTV reported it as Zombie had shelved Carpenter's original theme. The fact of the matter is Zombie was saying he wasn't going to use the reworked theme that he had been devloping. It's amazing how such a small misinterpretation can cause so many problems. Michael Myers is coming, and his theme will be rocking right behind him. Now when the hell do I get my own theme song?!

3.8.07
Well, the first photos from Rob Zombie's abomination of a classic have surfaced as well as various plot details from Zombie himself, courtesy of MTV.  The photos feature Malcolm McDowell as Dr. Loomis (now guilty of grand theft auto, and I don't mean the game) as well as Scout Taylor-Compton as Laurie Strode with Danielle Harris and another female actor.  Also, the first two picks of Tyler Mane as Michael Myers.  The look is generally faithful to the original design with the mask DEAD-ON, but he's all filthy.  Seems like the same idea used for Jason in Freddy vs. Jason - very tall masked man who looks like he just pulled himself out of a ditch.  You can check these images out in the Multimedia Archive.

Now, could it get worse?  Of course it can, it always gets worse!  Considering Rob Zombie's pretty much thrown out everything that John Carpenter did with the original Halloween why not just throw the iconic theme out too?!  Well, according to MTV, that's exactly what he's chosen to do.  Now, someone try to tell me with a straight face and a serious tone that this isn't the makings of a disaster!

This morning MTV posted a huge article on Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN, which featured a small video from the set. Here are some of the highlights:

"Michael does not talk," Zombie exclaims in the video. Malcom McDowell confirms, "In one scene we do, he's completely blank and I'm trying to coax him," McDowell said of his work with Daeg Faerch, who plays a young (and verbal!) Myers. "He gets to deliver [lines], but of course the older Michael is completely [silent]; he doesn't say a thing, he just wears a mask and terrifies everybody to death."

Zombie also reveals, "Michael Myers does not know how to drive in this movie," the long-haired, tattooed filmmaker told MTV over the weekend on the set of his highly anticipated remake of one of horror's most beloved slasher films (see "Rob Zombie Resurrecting Michael Myers For New 'Halloween' "). "[Myers in the station wagon] always bothered me. They would always play that off like someone must have given him lessons, but you know no one gave him lessons! He's in a maximum-security prison! So, no, he doesn't drive."

MTV writes that contrary to Internet rumors, Zombie's "Halloween" has no discernible time period and begins well before the original's opening scene of young Michael killing his sister Judith (Laurie doesn't even come into the film until the final third). Now, the 6-year-old slaughters five of his relatives and is then sent to Loomis' sanitarium.

But here's a whopper of a surprise as MTV reveals that one final change might just be the most controversial of them all: The dropping of the famous "Halloween" theme composed by Carpenter. "The plan was at some point to [remake it], to change it around," Zombie said, revealing that it has since been shelved. "The actual way it sounds now doesn't really work with what we're doing."

Among the other notable moves that Zombie is embracing:

• The Myers' house is much larger, with a battered porch, "No Trespassing" boards on the windows and a "For Sale" sign out front reading "Strode Real Estate - Price Reduced." A blue RAM van in the driveway belongs to an ill-fated boyfriend, and a climactic battle between Laurie and Michael takes place in an empty swimming pool in the backyard.

• In the original, Myers killed two dogs, even eating one of them; this time PETA can relax. "No, there is nothing like that at all," Zombie said.

• While in the sanitarium, young Michael makes masks out of paper — a bucket of papier-mâché versions of his famous mask was glimpsed on set.

• Loomis steals a Town of Haddonfield police car in the film, using it as his transportation.

• Don't hold your breath for a Jamie Lee Curtis appearance à la "H20." "There are no real cameos," Zombie said. "There is no one from the original film."

• Look for a genre veteran as Myers' new best bud. "Danny Trejo, who always plays the badass, is playing the one sympathetic hospital worker at Smith's Grove," the director explained. "He's been with Michael for 17 years there."

• Zombie has stocked the cast with veteran actors like Udo Kier ("He's the head of Smith's Grove"), Tom Towles ("He plays a councilman who is at [Myers'] parole hearing"), Adrienne Barbeau ("She has a brief moment as a woman at the adoption agency in Haddonfield") and Sybil Danning ("[She is] a young Michael's last victim at Smith's Grove").

• McDowell and Taylor-Compton say they'd return for additional "Halloween" sequels, but Zombie insists he's done after one. ("Everything I've wanted to do I've done with this movie," he remarked.)

• Zombie won't replicate Carpenter's classic one-take opening scene. "Since I've already spent a half-hour developing the little kid," he reasoned, "to do any kind of mysterious POV would be ridiculous."

• Laurie has traded in her skirts and turtlenecks for Chuck Taylor sneakers and a skull-depicting hoodie. "She's conservative, but she has a little bit of an attitude now," said Taylor-Compton, whose character engages in a risqué conversation about bagel holes with her embarrassed mom.

1.28.07
Well, the cast for Rob Zombie's regurgitated version of Halloween has expanded further.  According to Zombie's official Halloween MySpace blog,  Sybil Danning (The Howling) has joined the film in an undisclosed role.  Kristina Klebe (Delirious) will portray Lynda, and the always great genre favrotie Udo Kier (Blade, Shadow of the Vampire, Suspiria) will play Morgan Walker, head of Smith's Grove Sanitarium.  Though, the MAJOR news is the casting of Laurie Strode.  Scout Taylor-Compton will tackle the role that launched Jamie Lee Curtis' career in 1978.  Scout is a very beautiful young lady who has dark red hair and stands 5'3".  Visually speaking, Tyler Mane is going to look GIGANTIC next to her as he stands more than a foot and a half taller than her.  Taylor-Compton has a hefty list of credits from just the last nine years involving a lot of television guest appearances, but hasn't had any major roles in film.  I don't know how she will look in the film, but she honestly looks fresh off a WB melodrama like 7th Heaven (but so was Jessica Biel, and look how she came off in the TCM remake).  I personally know nothing of this young lady's talents, but from the looks of things, she's not gonna have as much of screentime as Curtis did.  Anyway, that's probably the last of the truly significant casting news, but maybe Zombie will try to shock us some more.  That's essentially all he cares to do with his film career.

1.22.07
According to the official Halloween MySpace blog, Brad Dourif has joined the cast of Rob Zombie's twisted version of Halloween.  Dourif will tackle the role of Sheriff Leigh Brackett, originally portrayed by Charles Cyphers in John Carpenter's original film and the first sequel.  Dourif is easily known by horror fans as Charles Lee Ray from the original Child's Play, and subsequently, the voice Chucky.  You may also know him as the Gemini KIller from The Exorcist III, or Grima Wormtongue from the latter two entries in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  Currently, the cast of this remake include Tyler Mane, Malcolm McDowell, Daeg Faerch, Heather Bowen, Pat Skipper, Dee Wallace Stone, Sheri Moon Zombie, William Forsythe, Ken Foree, Danielle Harris, Adrienne Barbeau, Clint Howard, Courtney Gains, and Daryl Sabara.  The film is written, produced, and directed by Rob Zombie due out in theatres August 21st, 2007.

Also, Fangoria further re-enforced the script details of the early draft of Rob Zombie's Halloween script.  While their opinion of it is more positive (probably their usual ass-kissing so Zombie will do more interviews with the magazine), it still states the same sad facts as the AICN review.  Here's an excerpt from their review (you can read the entire review via the link above):

Equal parts prequel and remake (with a dash of HALLOWEEN II thrown in for good measure), Zombie’s script picks up with Myers in his youth, a lad living with a white-trash family removed from their trailer-park environs and now getting by in the idyllic suburb of Haddonfield. But what happens behind closed doors isn’t befitting the archetypal family dynamic. Myers, we see, raises all of the red flags of a disturbed youth (masturbatory tendencies and animal killing go, uh, hand-in-hand with this kid). After a night of bloodshed that leaves only his little sister Laurie—nicknamed “Boo”—alive, Myers is locked away. He becomes a passion project for Dr. Loomis, who watches Myers regress into an introvert prone to lashing out and making paper masks that reflect his mood—a subtle habit that, thankfully, is not obtrusive and does not seep into his killing stage once he escapes the Smith’s Grove sanitarium. It’s around this point that Zombie shifts gears into hyperspeed remake mode, extracting all of the key beats that drive Carpenter and Debra Hill’s original narrative and infusing them with his own uncomfortable Myers mythos.

1.12.07
I'm officially clocked out on this!  I'm out, completely!  Rob Zombie has butchered everything that was Michael Myers and Halloween, and I am thoroughly convinced that this film will be the biggest wretched pile of puke from the horror genre this year.  AICN scored a script and reviewed it themselves.  Whether this is a current draft or not is unknown, but I can't imagine Zombie overhauling the entire script from this trash.  Not to mention, the characer breakdowns match what's in the script.  Simply put, we've got an abusive father, slutty mother, and a hyperactive blabbing Michael Myers.  The quiet, cold, emotionless figure that we once knew is being completely flipped and thrown away for a near seven foot tall maniac who babbles to himself.  Needless to say, Quint agrees with this view point, and hopes this is a very, very, very early draft.  I personally don't care if it is because no one takes a complete 180 in the scripting process and changes everything they originally put down in 125 page script.  I'd prefer that we continue getting subpar sequels like Halloween: Resurrection than gets a blatant point blank execution of everything we know as Halloween.  And Rob Zombie calls himself a fan of John Carpenter's film.

1.11.07
In FH's extremely long hiatus (it's been two and a half months, almost), a lot of news has surfaced on Rob Zombie's remake of Halloween, mainly in terms of casting.  First off, the excellent and always intense Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) will take up the role of Dr. Loomis, originally portrayed by Donald Pleasance through five films of the franchise.  This is a great bit of casting that easily shows that this will be a different kind of Loomis, but still be potentially a great character.  Unfortunately, the role of Michael Myers has gone to the 6'10" Tyler Mane (X-Men).  I find this a terrible depature from the look of Myers since he's now even larger than Jason Voorhees ever was, and extremely oversized from what Myers has ever been conceived to be.  Reports state that the mask is dead-on accurate to the original mask from John Carpenter's Halloween.  Next, we have Michaels parents, which pretty much kill the film for me entirely (one in casting, the other in character).  Michael's mother will be writer/producer/director Rob Zombie's wife Sheri Moon-Zombie, and as Michael's abusive father it will be William Forsythe.  Now, Forsythe is a great actor that I have no qualms with, but the fact that Michael's entire behavior and motivations can now be traced back to something as sadly mundane as an abusive parent kills this entire film, and the mystique of the character for me.  And Sheri Moon-Zombie being his mother sickens me.  Just seems like such an ego thing to me, like casting your non-actor brother-in-law as Vito Corleone's father in a remake of The Godfather (or more appropriately, The Godfather, Part II).

Furthermore, Ken Foree (Dawn of the Dead, Leatherface: TCM3) is cast as a trucker driver that comes across Michael on the road.  Other cast members include Danny Trejo, Lew Temple, Heather Bowen, Pat Skipper (Mr. Strode), Dee Wallace Stone (Mrs. Strode), and Daeg Faerch as the young Michael Myers.  The only actor returning from the original Halloween franchise is fan favorite Danielle Harris portraying Annie Brackett.  The character breakdown is as follows: [ANNIE BRACKETT] Emancipated or legal 18 to play 18, Caucasian, female. PARTIAL NUDITY REQUIRED FOR THIS ROLE. She is LAURIE'S best friend, cute, and curly-haired, full of teen enthusiasm and charm. Borderline bad girl (she rebels, but in a sweet way)."

Seriously, I think Zombie needs to dig into a new crop of actors, and stop trying to cast every cult classic movie actor on the planet.  He just keeps casting the same people over and over again, and the quality of his films or storytelling aren't getting much better, if any at all.  Sure, lots of directors cast a certain circle of actors in many of their films, but eventually, they find new actors to enrich their films with.  Even John Carpenter eventually did the same, and even when he did use the same actors, they were minor roles, bit parts.  Honestly, from what I'm reading about these characters and the casting, this looks to be a disaster of a remake, completely butchering everything Carpenter originally achieved.  I just hate how downhill in quality and true suspense this franchise has gone.  I'm almost dead certain Zombie will go for the shock elements, and not attempt to scare an audience with suspense and atmosphere (talents he has yet to demonstrate).  I have every faith in Malcolm McDowell as Loomis, but one actor isn't gonna be able to salvage this entire film.  Why the Weinsteins ever called up Rob Zombie to remake this film is beyond my comprehension, and I hope it stays that way.  If I was a bit more awake, I could go on and on, but I've probably ranted long enough.  Finally, I'll just give Bloody-Disgusting blanket credit for everything here since I gathered all the info from them anyway.

11.1.06
MTV's Flick'd has five video interviews with Rob Zombie discussing his ideas on the remake.  Mainly, stating what he feels needs changing to the story for this day and age and why.  He comes off as very genuine and quite respectful to Carpenter's original, but he states an obvious fact - times change and audiences change.  What once scared the crap out of one generation of movie-goers seems really tame to later generations.  His desire to further explore the backstory of Michael Myers comes from wanting Michael's evolution into a homicidal maniac to be more disturbing.  He feels showing the events that lead up to Michael's ultimate Halloween night massacre are far more disturbing than simply having Dr. Loomis continually speak of how purely evil Michael is.  I can concurr with that.  I do not doubt Zombie's desire to make a great film, I only doubt his capablity of making a great movie.  He has yet to demonstrate that to me, but we shall see what he can accomplish by this time next year.  Saw IV will have some substantial competition one way or another.  Thanks to staff reviewer Kevin Fehr for the link.

The remake of John Carpenter's Halloween, to be written and directed by Rob Zombie, will be released into theatres on October 19th, 2007 from Dimension Films.  No casting information is available at this time.

8.26.06
The inevitable and predictable news of Sheri Moon-Zombie, wife of writer/director Rob Zombie, will have an acting role in his remake of John Carpenter's Halloween.  She has assured everyone, from her official website, that she is NOT playing Laurie Strode.  Relieved, yes we are.  Though, I surely hope Rob doesn't try to pass her off as a teenager considering she's 36 years old, and pretty much looks her age (not meant as a jab at her).

8.8.06
Dark Horizons reports that 23 year old Amber Tamlyn (Joan of Arcadia, The Grudge 2) is rumored for the role of Laurie Strode in Rob Zombie's remake of John Carpenter's Halloween.  This seems hardly true since Rob Zombie is currently on tour with Godsmack, and hasn't even completed the script yet.  There's honestly no way Zombie could be auditioning actors if he's on tour.  This rumor will probably be shot down very soon, but I've been surprised by longer shots before.

Also, if you have't caught it yet, a proposed new rendition of the Halloween theme has surfaced from composer Tyler Bates.  Whether this will be used or not is unconfirmed as well as Bates' involvement.  You can listen to the overly produced demo here.  Rob Zombie's remake of Halloween is set to be released into theatres on October 19th, 2007.

6.21.06
Recently, the Official Halloween Website posted an interview with Rob Zombie.  It's essentially studio fluff teling us nothing but a vague spin on the truth.  However Zombie words it, it's gonna be a remake and not a sequel.  Halloween Series also did an interview with Zombie with not much better results except for this final bit of info:

"Rob Zombie: Well, no real details. But I just want to express that this is not meant to be in anyway some kind of shot for shot copy of Carpenter's original. We all know and love that film and creating something like that would be fucking stupid.  I want this film to capture what is great about Carpenter's film, but be so different in style and execution that you won't feel the need to compare them. Even though I'm sure everybody will anyway."

Rob had also stated that the film will be sort of a prequel and a remake combined, and that the film will take place in 1978 just like his last 2 films.

My lack of confidence in this projects has already been stated, and it's not getting any better.  We're doomed.

6.4.06
Bloody-Disgusting has received an official press release from Dimension Films stating that Rob Zombie will write, produce, and direct the next installment in the Halloween film franchise with an October 2007 release date.  Here's the first hafl of the press release.  The rest can be viewed at the B-D link above:

DIMENSION FILMS TO MAKE NEW “HALLOWEEN” FILM;
AUTEUR FILMMAKER ROB ZOMBIE TO WRITE AND DIRECT

Trancas International Films to Produce Along With Rob Zombie and Andy Gould

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (June 4, 2006) ? Dimension Films is proud to announce that they will make a new “Halloween” movie with Rob Zombie (The Devil's Rejects, House of 1000 Corpses) writing, directing and serving as a producer. Malek Akkad of Trancas International Films (Halloween H20: 20 Years Later) will produce the feature along with Andy Gould of Vision Entertainment Group (The Devil's Rejects, House of 1000 Corpses). Zombie will also serve as music supervisor on the film. Miramax Films will co-finance the development with Dimension Films. The announcement was made today by The Weinstein Company co-chairman, Bob Weinstein.

Zombie's vision of this film is an entirely new take on the legend and will satisfy fans of the classic "Halloween" legacy while beginning a new chapter in the Michael Myers saga. This new movie will not only appeal to horror fans, but to a wider movie-going audience as well. It will not be a copycat of any prior films in the "Halloween" franchise. The film is set for an October 2007 theatrical release.

Bob Weinstein stated, "Rob Zombie is a gifted musician and performer as well as a talented filmmaker. His vision for this new 'Halloween' is spectacular and I am thrilled to be collaborating with him and to work closely with Malek Akkad to continue the legacy built by his father, the late Moustapha Akkad."

Zombie said, "I have been a huge, huge fan of John Carpenter's original film since its release. So when Bob Weinstein approached me about this, I jumped at the chance to join forces with Dimension Films on this amazing project."

The "Halloween" story began with the 1978 release of "John Carpenter's Halloween," executive produced by the late Moustapha Akkad, founder of Trancas International Films and became the highest grossing independent film of the time. Moustapha Akkad's son, Malek, is now taking some of the reigns on this new "Halloween" project to continue the outstanding work begun by his father. Malek Akkad stated, "Trancas is very excited to be working with Rob Zombie and producing another 'Halloween' with Bob Weinstein and Dimension, the home of the franchise for the last three installments. It will be a fitting and worthy tribute to my late father."

"I am thrilled to be working again with Rob and with Dimension Films on such an iconic project that will reinvigorate 'Halloween' and Michael Myers in a truly terrifying new way," stated Andy Gould, Rob Zombie's long time manager and producer of Zombie's two previous films.

Richard Saperstein, president of production, Matthew Stein, senior vice president of production and Alex Franklin, director of development and production will oversee the project on behalf of Dimension. Bret McCartney of Trancas International will oversee production on behalf of Trancas.

Andrew Kramer, executive vice president of business and legal affairs, and Lumumba Mosquera, senior vice president of business and legal affairs, negotiated on behalf of Dimension Films. Attorneys David Fox and Jeffrey Light of Myman Abell Fineman Greenspan & Light negotiated on behalf of Rob Zombie. Attorney Wayne Kazan of Weissmann Wolff Bergman Coleman & Silverman negotiated on behalf of Akkad. Rob Zombie is represented by Paradigm. 

Personally, as anyone has read my review of Zombie's second film The Devil's Rejects, I don't like Rob Zombie as a filmmaker.  I think he has a terribly long way to go before being a coherent and high quality filmmaker.  Yes, he makes brutal and unflinching films, but his storytelling is very inconsistent and unrefined.  His editing style is no better or different than that utilized in his music videos, and his excessive use of 70s film homages cheapens the quality of his films to the lazy level of plagarism.  If Zombie carries all this over into a Halloween film, I fear it'll be the worst entry, yet.

3.4.06
Moviehole has brought in solid news of the future of this franchise.  The reporter, Clint Morris, has proven to be very reliable when it comes to Dimension Films-related news (so says Bloody-Disgusting), and despite this being part of the Weinstien Company now, it's mostly the same people.  The short version is that another sequel is possible, but a remake of the John Carpenter original is a definite.  Nothing's locked in as far as writers, directors, etc., but plans are in motion.  Here's the info straight from Moviehole's Clint:

"Halloween 9" has been on the cards for longer than, well, Howard's been in office here in Australia. Every writer in town has submitted a script, treatment or combination for the film over the past few years - I even did a little something at one stage, just prior to the "Halloween Retribution" tag was announced - and several directors have had meetings about directing it (including John Carpenter).

While the Weinstein's HAVE decided to remake that first "Halloween" - yep, new Laurie Strode - there is still a rough plan to do one more in the current series too. I'm not sure whose script they'd be using for this one, or even whether there is one yet (Matt Venne did something rather grand on this a year or two back - maybe it's his?), but whatever the case, one of the best horror filmmakers around at the moment has been in contact about directing it.

Dante Tomaselli, whose "Desecration" and "Horror" absolutely rocked (and whose new film, "The Satans Playground", I hear, is a major treat), has been in contact with those-that-matter to see if he can't take the reigns on "Halloween 9", according to "JoBlo.com.

Speaking in the Guts and Glory forum, the new prince of gore says "I'd love to direct Halloween 9. I really would. Halloween is my all time favorite movie. I saw it on my birthday in 1979. I was 9".

Tomaselli told the film's producers that "I'd want to bring back the spirit of the original Halloween", apparently, and that includes using Jamie Lee Curtis just "one more time".

Should he get the gig, Tomaselli says he'd love to get some of the franchise's most famous on-camera and off-camera talents to do cameos - including director John Carpenter - and if possible, he'd love to entice actor Bill Paxton, of "Titanic" and "Aliens" fame, to play a role in the film. (As grand as that would be, the studio's more likely to want 'fresh virginal faces....that girl from that show with that guy with the pecs and the...' you get the drift?)

My money's on Dante. Be interesting to see how this goes. 

1.7.05
Been a long time since an update came regarding the furthering of the Halloween franchise, and you'll still have to wait one more month before you truly do.  Creature Corner got in touch with the forces behind the franchise, and grabbed the following words from producer Malek Akkad - son to Moustapha....

There’s nothing to report on Halloween 9 right now, but keep in touch because there will be next month," says Akkad. "We’re going to make a major announcement in one month about Halloween 9 and the direction the film’s going to take." 

Usually, I try to speculate on something, but really, with the total absence of even rumors for the last year, I can't even conjure a single thought on any decision that the Akkads and Dimension Films might make.  So, ride out the next month, and we'll discover what the future of Michael Myers will be.

11.12.03
Dark Horizons picked up a nice bit of info about the progress of the ninth installment of the franchise today.  Hopefully, we can discover more information about this script and story sooner than later.

In terms of whose doing what, "Halloween 5" director Dominique Othenin-Girard has apparently written a first draft script based on H20 scribe Matt Greenburg's treatment. Othenin-Girard may in fact direct as well.

11.03.03
FOREVER HORROR once again proves its methods to be justified.  We won't begin reporting on news projects or sequels until there has been OFFICIALLY confirmed news that it is happening.  Today, we've got a boat load of news that comes out of the Halloween 25th Anniversary convention that was held late last week in California.  First off, that which justifies our aforementioned policy, Garth Franklin of Dark Horizons posted a wealth of information including the END of the "Myers vs. Pinhead" (a.k.a. 'HELLOWEEN") rumors:

"The teaming of Pinhead against Michael Myers might be off it seems according to this fresh off the press report from 'mikeymoves': "I was at the 25th anniversary Halloween convention and Moustapha Akkad (the producer of the Halloween movie franchise) himself has officially shot down 'Helloween'. He said that the fans overwhelming negative reaction and logistical reasons are why. In regards to Halloween 9 he also commented on the possibility of Danielle Harris making a cameo as well as Dick Warlock (Michael Myers from Halloween 2). He also said he will NOT revisit the Thorn plot. Joe Wolf of Compass International said Jamie Lee Curtis might cameo in H9 as well"

Anyone who knows me as a horror fan, knows I'm a BIG fan of HALLOWEEN 6 (in either cut), and have awaited its DIRECT sequel for YEARS!  They would also tell you that I'm no fan of "HALLOWEEN II", and I have no love for Dick Warlock's Michael Myers (though, I doubt they'll cast him as The Shape once again).  Though, "HALLOWEEN II" director Rick Rosenthal redeemed himself, in my eyes, with "HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION".  Now, in other sequel news, Mr. Disgusting of Bloody Disgusting received an email from a source, who wishes to remain anonymous, about "HALLOWEEN 9" rumblings.  They are not confirmed as of yet, but are from relatively official sources:

"I was just writing in response to the news on the end of Helloween and news on Halloween 9. I was also at the H25 convention and heard Akkad say the same things. However, the night before I was at the VIP party and was involved in a conversation between Malek Akkad and Charles Cyphers (Sheriff Brackett) who were discussing the next installment and his possible involvement. At the end of the conversation, Akkad ensured Cyphers that he'd be contacting him as soon as the wheels starting rolling on production of H9. The next day at the convention, someone addressed Cyphers return to Moustapha Akkad while on panel and the crowd went nuts. His appearance being similar to Loomis was also pointed out and it was mentioned that he could be a new Loomis like character who is set on avenging his daughter Annie's death by Michael in part one. To this Moustapha pointed to Malek and said, "Are you taking notes?" Very exciting in my opinion. Just thought I'd let you know."

10.31.03
"Why aren't you covering 'HELLOWEEN'?"  "Where's the 'Myers vs. Pinhead' news?"  Well, as with "FREDDY vs. JASON", FOREVER HORROR has pledged to only bring you the CONFIRMED news on new installments to the franchises we cover.  And well, Bloody-Disgusting snagged some news from Moviehole that should tame the enthusiasm about a project that I believe is a waste time considering that Pinhead could SLAUGHTER Michael Myers in about three seconds flat!

Moviehole writes, "Seems Dimension still isn't exactly sure that they're going to be doing the Michael vs. Pinhead movie and want the chance to clear it up. We received the following email from a studio contact, who's as close to the production as one could possibly get. "I don't know how many times we are going to have to say this and apologies for all the confusing stories, but the Halloween vs. Hellraiser project is NOT officially on. Any stories you hear to the contrary are false". The match-up is merely one of several ideas the studio are reportedly considering to form the basis of the next Halloween movie apparently, and it's a while off yet."

Did you catch this part, "The match-up is merely one of several ideas the studio are reportedly considering"? Looks like the future could hold some surprises!

6.23.03
The FIRST official news on the next sequel is here from the OFFICIAL SOURCE!  HalloweenMovies.com posted the following on their series news page:

"You asked for it and here it is... some OFFICIAL news on Halloween 9! Moustapha Akkad reported today that a storyline has been chosen and the screenplay is being written right now. With discussions taking place with actors and the film set for a summer 2004 release, shooting isn't too far off. We will, of course, keep everyone updated as things progress. Happy Halloween!"