Horror Comedy Sequel…A Night in Paris 2???

So I’m surfing the web and I read - via Dread Central’s Foy Wonder - that Darren Lynn Bousman (DLB) wants to reboot the pint sized Irish Meanie and get him shooting up the Old West. Popular blog /Film also reported the news.

I agreed with Dread Central’s Foy Wonder: be careful what you wish for. Then I read DLB’s strenuous denial that he was ever serious. As President Paris would say: “Whatever.”

However, I was glad to read that /Film thinks LEP 3 is better than the original: it was the highest selling direct to video of 1995. But there are some pretty hard core LEP IN SPACE fans out there too.

The “ …In the Hood “ movies that followed were not for me. I did not feel an Anglo Australian white geezer should be poking fun at black culture. An African American director should be doing that.

Chingaw! I’m sounding politically correct…This will never do.

So what should rising director Darren Lynn Bousman do next, after SAW 2-4, and REPO, THE GENETIC OPERA, release of which is presently delayed to November? Certainly he should stay away from another pre-existing franchise. He should start one of his own. (I have a horror western script he ought to like.) Whatever project he chooses, his best next career move should be something original, with a built-in audience, that takes a shit load of coin in its first weekend.

But reactivating the LEPRECHAUN franchise is an intriguing thought. Any genre can be re-imagined. The opportunities in LEP for audience-convulsing, inspired dark hearted wackiness are boundless. How to do it - and at what budget - has no doubt been the subject of many conversations at Lionsgate.

For those interested in this discussion, some research might be helpful. Here’s the trailer for LEP 4. Understand these movies are aimed at the post pubescent male in all of us.

Actually, there is a much better trailer in the material than that. I’m an old trailer maker, so I’m picky. A great repository of LEPRECHAUN lore from all six movies can be found on the Lepconnie’s wonderful website.

Lionsgate chose to release Leprechaun 3 & 4 DVD’s without commentary or extras from the creators of the original character or from myself.

Pity; I could have provided behind the scene footage and on-set interviews. Maybe Blu Ray one day. But a Blu Ray transfer of LEP IN SPACE, shot 35mm but finished on Digi, would require matching the negative and remaking the VFX.

In other words, the studio felt the franchise had lost its heat, and saw no reason to spend more than necessary on the DVD. How to reboot the franchise, when the world wide market is currently glutted with low budget horror, is not an easy question. The LEP franchise never caught on internationally as it did in the US. Horror’s theatrical audience demands strong, plentiful gore and VFX effects. Quality costs. As does a theatrical Ad campaign.

There is of course only one Leprechaun for me. That is WARWICK DAVIS. Super smart, great sense of comedy, patient with the 3 hours plus of prosthetic make up, a director’s dream. Introduce other currently prominent little people by all means in guest roles. But Warwick is the only one to be the Leprechaun. Would he return?

Perhaps the sweetener of an added iconic horror villain would help marquee appeal. I am sure LEPRECHAUN Versus CHUCKY has been discussed. But getting two parties to share their toys is always a challenge. I loved BRIDE & SEED OF CHUCKY. Jennifer Tilly is a comedic sex goddess!

The latter CHUCKY flics and POULTRYGIEST, and ZOMBIE STRIPPERS are my kind of horror comedies. They certainly reflect the tone for a future LEPRECHAUN. Stunt cast it with every hip name you can think of, ( but only names that will sign a favored nations deal for a set guest star rate). There’ll be some cool volunteers, because it’s a cool movie to be in. It’s absurdist comedy, like any of the SCARY MOVIE/EPIC MOVIE/DISASTER MOVIE pastiches.

DLB cast Paris Hilton in REPO, which I have not seen, but I hear she is great in the role. Hitherto, I have never liked a Paris Hilton performance till her McCain Rebuttal/Paris for President TV AD. Wickedly well written and nicely delivered.

 

For responding as she did, my respect for her went up 1000 %. And I bet I’m not alone. We look forward to her next political AD. So come the delayed release of REPO, THE GENETIC OPERA in November, more people may want to see her in that than her last movie. The shift in release date might end up paying off.

Timing is everything. After LEPRECHAUN IN SPACE, I proposed LEPRECHAUN IN THE WHITE HOUSE. It was turned down as an unlikely source of fun. 18 months later the Monica Lewinsky matter hit the headlines. I called the relevant executive at Trimark and said: “ Wouldn’t you like to have 1200 prints of LEPRECHAUN IN THE WHITE HOUSE ready for release right now?”

Gulp!

Wait a minute! I’ve got it! PRESIDENT PARIS WEDS LEPRECHAUN IN THE WHITE HOUSE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s a great scene. Where’s my pad…?