Buzz
Sequels are a staple in Hollywood, primarily because they guarantee profits regardless of quality. In recent years, sequels have dominated the box office, with seven out of the top ten highest-grossing films being follow-ups to previous hits.
It appears that no sequel concept is too outlandish for consideration, yet some ideas are too extreme even for Hollywood. Despite the abundance of sequels, there are a few that were deemed too wild to produce, though they came surprisingly close to realization.
10. Batman Unchained
During Joel Schumacher's tenure directing the much-criticized Batman films, he began developing what he envisioned as his ultimate Batman project. Moving away from the commercial focus of his earlier works, he declared, 'I owe the dedicated fans the Batman movie they’ve always wanted from me.'
However, Schumacher’s interpretation of fan desires was unconventional. He intended to feature Batman facing off against Nicholas Cage as The Scarecrow and Courtney Love as Harley Quinn. In this storyline, Harley Quinn would discover that The Joker is her father—a revelation that adds a deeply unsettling layer to their previous interactions.
Additionally, The Scarecrow would attempt to push Batman to the brink of madness by inducing hallucinations of a trial presided over by his rogues' gallery. Schumacher aimed to bring back every actor who had portrayed these villains, including Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze, to delve into Batman’s psyche.
The film would conclude with a symbolic moment of Batman’s emotional liberation, as he enters a cave surrounded by bats. Before this, however, he would travel all the way to Bali, as Schumacher apparently couldn’t conceive of a closer location for a bat-filled cave—because, naturally, Batman needed to go to Indonesia for that.
9. Lord Of The Rings 2
J.R.R. Tolkien almost penned a follow-up to Lord of the Rings. He drafted 13 pages before recognizing the direction it was taking and ultimately discarding it.
The sequel was intended to take place a century after the events of the original and would have largely excluded hobbits. Instead, Tolkien began with an engaging dialogue between two men debating the environmental impact of deforestation and its potential benefits.
Had Tolkien completed the sequel, he described it as being, in his own words, 'sinister and depressing.' He envisioned it as a 'thriller' centered around thwarting a conspiracy led by a 'secret Satanistic religion.'
Tolkien remarked, 'It would have been just that—nothing worth pursuing.'
8. E.T. 2: Nocturnal Fears
Following the monumental success of Spielberg's heartwarming tale about the bond between a boy and a kind alien, studios were eager for a follow-up. Spielberg nearly delivered, drafting a 10-page concept for E.T. 2, titled Nocturnal Fears.
The sequel was far darker than its predecessor. In this version, malevolent aliens with razor-sharp teeth arrive on Earth searching for E.T.—who, it turns out, has the rather unfortunate sci-fi name Zrek. These aliens capture Elliott and his friends, subjecting them to brutal torture.
After enduring relentless torment, Elliott cries out to E.T. for help—not with a phone, but through sheer desperation and tears. In this story, E.T. can sense tears across the cosmos, prompting him to return and save the day.
The climax sees E.T. storming the alien ship for a final confrontation. The battle unfolds as follows: E.T. instantly freezes the aliens, who remain immobilized and pose no resistance. They stay frozen, offering no challenge or conflict whatsoever.
E.T. safely returns the children home, and the aliens abandon their pursuit of him. Apparently, E.T. is an invincible force of nature.
7. Toy Story 3: Toy Story In Taiwan
After Disney and Pixar parted ways, Disney retained the rights to Pixar's films and decided to proceed with sequels independently. They established a studio named Circle 7 specifically for this purpose, determined to continue the franchises without Pixar's involvement.
Led by the creators of direct-to-DVD hits like The Lion King 1-1/2, Disney began crafting a version of Toy Story 3 that never reached audiences. Their initial concept was a mystery-themed storyline, but it was scrapped in favor of a different plot: sending the toys to Taiwan.
In this version, Buzz Lightyear gets recalled and shipped to Taiwan, prompting the toys to embark on a rescue mission. They travel to Taiwan, where they perform surgery on Buzz Lightyear—a skill the toys inexplicably possess in this storyline.
6. Forrest Gump 2: Gump & Co.
Forrest Gump was adapted from a novel, which has a sequel titled Gump & Co. In 2001, there were plans to bring this sequel to the big screen, though it never materialized.
The sequel would have been quite unusual.
In the proposed follow-up, Forrest Gump becomes a single father following Jenny's passing. However, Jenny isn't entirely absent—she returns as a ghost, acting as Forrest's guardian angel and accompanying him throughout the film.
Forrest starts as a janitor in a strip club but quickly climbs the career ladder, transitioning from janitor to NFL player and eventually becoming an astronaut.
Much like the original, Forrest stumbles through historical events. At one point, he participates in Operation Desert Storm alongside the orangutan that joined him in space—a bizarre yet genuine plot detail that defies imagination.
5. Star Wars: Splinter Of The Mind’s Eye
At one point, Star Wars was not expected to succeed. Despite this, George Lucas planned a sequel, even if it meant working with a minimal budget. This led to the near-creation of Star Wars V: Splinter of the Mind’s Eye.
The initial concept for Star Wars V excluded Han Solo, as they anticipated not being able to afford Harrison Ford and prepared accordingly.
In this sequel, Luke and Leia crash on a swampy planet and discover a mystical crystal that enhances the Force. They then engage in a race against Darth Vader to secure the crystal.
The plot includes Luke disguising Leia as a slave girl and slapping her when she defies him. Additionally, Luke and Leia develop romantic feelings for each other—an awkward twist considering their sibling relationship.
The film concludes with a lightsaber duel between Luke and Vader, which Luke wins. He severs Vader’s arm and escapes with the crystal. Remarkably, Luke’s brief training with Obi-Wan seems to make him a superior Jedi to Vader, despite Vader’s decades of experience.
4. Mrs. Doubtfire 2
While Mrs. Doubtfire doesn’t naturally lend itself to a sequel, plans for one were nearly realized. Few details emerged, but the initial draft involved Robin Williams disguising himself as a woman again to follow his daughter to college and win her trust.
Robin Williams himself found the concept flawed. He remarked, 'At the end of the first film, Mrs. Doubtfire’s identity is exposed. It doesn’t work.'
However, Williams later agreed to a sequel with a revised storyline, which was ultimately shelved following his passing. The director claimed Williams was convinced by a compelling new narrative.
Tab reports suggested the proposed sequel wasn’t particularly strong, and Williams only committed due to financial pressures.
3. Gladiator 2
The original Gladiator concluded with the protagonist’s death, making a sequel challenging. Despite this, attempts were made, including hiring Nick Cave, the 1980s rock star, to write the script—a decision that remains puzzling. Cave’s vision was wildly unconventional.
Cave’s story begins with Maximus in the afterlife, yearning to reunite with his deceased wife. Determined, he embarks on a quest to find her.
However, Maximus encounters Roman gods who task him with halting the rise of monotheism. He is resurrected in the body of a dying Christian and, alongside a spectral ally named Mordecai, switches allegiances to lead a Christian army against the Roman Empire.
By the film’s conclusion, Maximus begins teleporting through time without explanation. He transitions from being a Crusader to fighting in World War II and Vietnam, eventually landing a role at the Pentagon. In the final moments, he and his ghostly companion exchange knowing nods, acknowledging their eternal mission.
Meanwhile, his wife is left suffering in Hell, as the initial plot of reuniting with her is abandoned early on. Maximus becomes too preoccupied with time-traveling adventures alongside his spectral friend to recall her existence.
2. Super Mario Bros. 2
The Super Mario Bros. movie concludes with a cliffhanger: Daisy rushes in, shouting to Mario and Luigi, 'You gotta come with me! I need your help!' This was meant to leave audiences eager for a sequel, but instead, it left them hoping no sequel would ever be made.
Despite the backlash, a sequel was in the works, inspired by the plot of Super Mario 2—a game where Mario dreams of playing Super Mario 2 and later wakes up to realize none of it was real.
In the film adaptation, Mario and Luigi would return to Princess Toadstool’s dimension. Toad would throw them a wild party and perform an epic guitar solo—a nod to the '90s vibe. However, their celebration would be interrupted by a villain named Wart, who declares he’s seized control of the city, forcing the brothers to step in.
The sequel was never produced, but it was adapted into a comic, which is available to read online.
1. Space Jam 2
Concerned that Space Jam didn’t fully satisfy the audience’s desire for athletes teaming up with Looney Tunes characters, the creators nearly produced a sequel. This time, however, the focus shifted from basketball to golf.
A film featuring Tiger Woods playing golf alongside Bugs Bunny in outer space was almost released. A script was completed, and Joe Pytka, the original director, was consulted. He offered little insight, only remarking, 'It was a strange script.'
Pytka opposed the sequel, stating, 'The first film is always the best. The Godfather 2 isn’t as good as The Godfather 1.' Remarkably, the director of Space Jam likened his film about Jordan and Bugs Bunny to The Godfather.
Hollywood continued pursuing Space Jam sequels despite setbacks. Dwight Howard attempted to spearhead one, but it fell through due to his lack of widespread recognition. Currently, a Space Jam 2 featuring LeBron James is in development.
When asked about the sequel, Pytka bluntly remarked, 'It’s doomed.'
